The police are holding a number of persons after they were allegedly found in possession of drugs during police and army checks in various localities in the past days.

The police said they were holding 12 persons who were arrested in two separate checks as part of the drive against drug abuse.

On Friday evening, the police stopped a 44-year-old man from Gżira at his hometown on suspicion that he was trafficking drugs.

The police said a body search yielded 32 sachets containing cocaine. A subsequent search at his residence produced another 28 packets containing cocaine and items associated with drug trafficking.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani appointed a team of court experts to help in an inquiry.

The police also said 11 persons, including two women, were arrested on Saturday night during a party at Ta' Qali. Investigations revealed they had either used or were in possession of cocaine.

Those arrested, whose ages range between 17 and 33, are from Żurrieq, Birkirkara, St Julians, Msida, Ħamrun, Dingli and Luqa.

The Armed Forces of Malta said they detained four persons after they found them in possession of drugs at two vehicle checkpoints on Saturday night.

Soldiers from 1st Regiment's C (Special Duties) Company found cannabis joints on an 18-year-old youth from Żabbar.

In a second separate incident, three individuals hailing from Valletta, Naxxar and San Ġwann, aged 34, 27 and 44 respectively, were found in possession of ecstasy pills, cannabis joints and cocaine, the AFM said.

The four men were handed over to the police for further investigations.