Law Enforcement

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Each Legal Attache (Legat) represents the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and protects the interests of the Bureau. The FBI responds to domestic and extraterritorial needs as effectively as possible. This is accomplished through partnerships and cooperation with Romanian and Moldovan law enforcement agencies on every level. FBI agents overseas do not have arrest power or the power to serve subpoenas in connection to conducting investigations without the approval of the host Government. Legats are responsive to the U.S. Ambassador. Officially, the FBI Legat office was opened August 24, 2000. Legat Bucharest has territorial responsibility for Romania and Moldova. The Legal Attache office consists of a Legat, an Assistant Legat, and an Office Assistant. The FBI also has an Advisor to the Romanian Human Trafficking Task Force.

Another element of the FBI’s role in Romania and Moldova is training provided for international law enforcement agencies. The FBI considers training of foreign law enforcement officers to be particularly critical to combating international crime.

Drug Enforcement Administration

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) works together with Romanian and international drug law enforcement agencies on matters regarding international drug control programs and drug related money laundering.

Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training

OPDAT Mission: To develop and administer technical assistance designed to enhance the capabilities of foreign justice sector institutions and their law enforcement personnel, so they can effectively partner with the Department of Justice in combating terrorism, trafficking in persons, organized crime, corruption, and financial crimes.

OPDAT carries out justice sector institution building, including technical assistance and skills development support, to enhance foreign justice sector cooperation.
The rule of law and the rights of individuals are the cornerstones of any free society. Crime and misuse of the public trust undermine confidence in government and discredit free market economies. The effective and fair administration of justice offers to the state and its citizens the greatest protection from lawlessness and support for basic human rights, and, when extant in foreign countries, provides the U.S. with a stronger base of foreign cooperation in the fight against organized crime, illegal narcotics, and terrorism.

Established in 1991, OPDAT draws on Department of Justice resources and expertise to strengthen foreign criminal justice sector institutions and enhance the administration of justice abroad. OPDAT supports the United States and the Department’s law enforcement objectives and priorities by preparing foreign counterparts to cooperate more fully and effectively with the United States in combating terrorism, trafficking in persons, organized crime, corruption, financial crimes, and other transnational crime. It does so by encouraging legislative and justice sector reform in countries with inadequate laws; by improving the skills of foreign prosecutors, investigators and judges; and by promoting the rule of law and regard for human rights.

For more information, visit the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training website.

Regional Security Office

The Regional Security Office Bucharest is responsible for providing a safe and secure working environment for U.S. Diplomats in Romania. The Regional Security Office falls under the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

The Regional Security Office Bucharest overseas a number of security and law enforcement programs at post to include; criminal investigations, personnel investigations, physical/residential security, the local guard force program, security of classified material, law enforcement liaison, police training programs and the counter-terrorism rewards program. The Regional Security Office advises the U.S. Ambassador on all security-related issues in Romania. The Regional Security Office also provides security information to U.S. companies in Romania upon request.

If you have any questions about security in Romania please call (+40) (21) 200-3366.

If you want to lean more, please visit U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security website.

United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service (USSS) performs two critical homeland security missions: protection and criminal investigation. Through its protective mission, the Secret Service preserves continuity of government and ensures security at events of national significance by protecting the President and Vice President, their families, visiting heads-of-state/government, and other designated individuals. The USSS also investigates threats against these protectees; protects the White House, the Vice President’s Residence, Foreign Missions, and other designated buildings within the Washington, D.C. area; and designs, coordinates, and implements operational security plans for designated National Special Security Events .
Through its investigative mission, the USSS prevents cyber crime and other malicious uses of cyberspace that can create economic instability and undermine confidence in U.S. financial systems. The Secret Service does this by investigating violations of laws relating to: counterfeiting of obligations and securities of the United States; financial crimes, such as access device fraud, financial institution fraud, identity theft, and computer fraud; and computer-based attacks on our nation’s financial, banking, and telecommunications infrastructure.
In order to fulfill its protective and investigative mission, the Secret Service maintains both domestic and international offices and employs special agents, uniformed officers, and support personnel.
The USSS Frankfurt Resident Office is responsible for the coordination of international investigations and protective visits with counterparts, not only within Germany, but including 13 additional countries. The USSS Attaché cultivates and maintains a close liaison with law enforcement, intelligence and security services throughout its geographic area of responsibility.
For additional information regarding the U.S. Secret Service, visit the website at www.secretservice.gov.

Intellectual Property Law Enforement

The Department of Justice Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinator (IPLEC) program is to help develop strategies for more effective investigation and prosecution of intellectual property offenses through training and case-based mentoring.

David Gappa is the Department of Justice Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinator (IPLEC). He has been based at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest since January 2015 and has responsibility for all of the countries in Southeastern Europe. While serving as the IPLEC, he is a point of contact and liaison for investigators, prosecutors, judges, and rights holders in Southeastern Europe and the United States.