Updated 13.30pm with comments by Prime Minister Robert Abela

Byron Camilleri suspended the commander of the armed forces and offered his own resignation to the Prime Minister on Sunday following the theft of 200kg of illegal drugs from AFM premises on Saturday night.

The theft happened at Ħal Safi, in a property manned by the AFM, where a container with illegal drugs seized last year was being kept and guarded.

Robert Abela told journalists later on Sunday he was refusing the minister’s resignation and appointing an administrative inquiry into the case.

The Home Affairs Minister released a statement earlier on Sunday morning detailing the sequence of events.

He said he was informed of the theft on Sunday morning and after asking for an explanation from the army brigadier, ordered his suspension.

"I have requested the Permanent Secretary to suspend the army brigadier," the minister stated, "pending a thorough investigation to determine whether all necessary precautions were taken."

The minister also confirmed that he had offered his resignation to the Prime Minister, emphasising his sense of responsibility despite having no direct involvement in the drug storage arrangements. 

"Even though I had no role in the decision and even less in its implementation, I believe that this is what integrity demands. I am doing this because I feel this is a serious case, but I am doing so with great serenity because for me public life has always been just a service to the public."

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the Prime Minister refused Camilleri's resignation, stating how the minister was not involved in the decision that led to the circumstances of the theft. 

Abela said he will be appointing an administrative inquiry into the case.

In a statement released on Sunday, the police revealed more details, saying it was informed of the theft at 3am last night and that 200 kilograms of cannabis resin was missing from the container.

The seals on the container were broken and it was forced open, the police said.

'I was let down' - Byron Camilleri

Contacted by Times of Malta, Camilleri said: "I was let down. Principles come first. I've offered my resignation out of loyalty to my country."

In his statement he explained that several weeks ago, the permanent secretary informed him of a request from the Court Agency to relocate seized drugs from the Freeport due to potential industrial action.

The drugs, seized in June 2024, were partially awaiting destruction.

The permanent secretary was to coordinate with AFM Brigadier Clinton J O’Neill regarding secure storage. The Minister stated he received no further updates till Sunday morning, when the Police Commissioner informed him of the drug theft from a container that was being stored in an AFM property.

Camilleri immediately sought an explanation from Brigadier O'Neill, who reported that the container was in a secured area with CCTV and regular patrols.

However, the container was breached overnight, and the theft was discovered during a routine inspection. No suspicious activity was reported by on-duty personnel.

O’Neill joined the AFM in 1992 and was appointed its commander in 2022, succeeding Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, who now serves as Maltese ambassador to the Netherlands.

The police are currently investigating the theft under the direction of Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici.

Grech calls for PM to accept Camilleri’s resignation

Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech called on Abela to accept Camilleri’s resignation. 

Speaking during an interview with journalists at Dar Centrali, Grech expressed his concerns on hearing the news, pointing out how ministers should ensure the public's safety. He said it was strange how the drugs were only discovered during a routine check.

He noted the PN had repeatedly called for Camilleri’s resignation, including during the ID card scandals and following multiple reported deaths at Corradino prison during Alex Dalli’s prison tenure.

Even after the Ombudsman’s report described Dalli’s prison as a “factory of evil,” Camilleri refused to step down, instead choosing to defend Dalli alongside Abela, Grech said.

“Rather than ensuring the public’s peace of mind and security, Byron Camilleri is failing in his duty to the Maltese people,” Grech said.