VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Police seized more than 28 kilos of suspected heroin and cocaine in two operations in Malta and Gozo. The drugs have an estimated street value of €3.5 million, police said. Eight people were arrested during the separate operations. The haul included around 20.7 kilos of suspected heroin. More than eight kilos of suspected cocaine were also recovered.
One operation focused on a garage in Żurrieq. Police said the drugs were concealed in false compartments. The compartments were built into wooden panels and a van. The investigation followed the arrest of a 49-year-old man. He had previously been found carrying a substance suspected to be heroin. Investigators traced a garage he was renting in Żurrieq. The man was escorted to the premises during the investigation.
There, officers found wooden panels fixed together with a concealed compartment. A van parked inside the garage contained similar panels, police said. Officers found about 7.7 kilos of suspected cocaine inside the vehicle.
They also recovered 20.7 kilos of suspected heroin. Packaging materials and electronic scales were found at the scene. Police also recovered other items believed to be linked to drug trafficking. The second operation was carried out at sites in Qala and Victoria, Gozo. Police suspected the locations were being used to store and traffic drugs. Five people were arrested at the Qala site on Sunday evening. One of those detained allegedly tried to flee during the operation.
Police said the person discarded a bag while attempting to escape. The bag contained eight packets of a substance suspected to be cocaine. Two other people were arrested at a residence in Victoria. Further searches uncovered about half a kilo of suspected cocaine in Qala.
Small quantities of other substances suspected to be drugs were found in Victoria. Six of those arrested in Gozo were men, while one was a woman. Separate magisterial inquiries have been opened into the two cases.
-Malta Police photo-
(ITALPRESS).
