Three raids yield large drug haul

Drug squad police seized a large quantity of drugs - close to 400 ecstasy tablets, over 1.7 kilos of cannabis resin and 13 grammes of cocaine - in three separate raids forming part of the same operation, the police said.

The raids were conducted on Monday night and searches were still in progress at 5 a.m. yesterday. Four Maltese men, two Ukrainian women and a Libyan national are helping the police with their enquiries and are expected to be arraigned today.

After several days of surveillance, drug squad police started their operation with a raid in Marsa where an 18-year old was arrested and found to be in possession of 100 ecstasy tablets.

In the second raid, the police carried out searches in garages belonging to a 24-year-old man from Swieqi.

A total of 282 ecstasy tablets, two blocks of cannabis resin weighing 500 grammes and two grammes of cocaine were discovered. The garages in which the drugs were found are situated in Swieqi and Birkirkara.

In the third raid, a 54-year-old from Paceville was arrested after he was found in possession of five bars of cannabis resin, weighing over 1.2 kilos and six grammes of cocaine.

A 21-year-old Libyan, who was in the company of the man from Paceville, and who was in possession of five grammes of cocaine was also arrested.

Two Ukrainian women and a 35-year-old man from Marsascala who were in the company of the 54-year-old man were also being detained and questioned.

Assistant commissioner Michael Cassar and Inspector Norbert Ciappara are conducting investigations.