The Corradino Correctional Facility has transformed from a correctional facility to a destructive one, the PN said in a statement
The PN made reference to an article in The Times of Malta, which read that over the past seven weeks there have been 14 drug overdose cases. The PN stated that the prison has deteriorated from a place where criminals are reformed, to one infested with drugs.
The PN insists that Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia explain how drug consumption has become such a major problem there, and how "the authorities believe there is no solution as to how to address the problem. He must explain who is responsible for this grave situation."
"The prisoners and their relatives have a right to have their minds at ease, that anyone in prison does not also end up a victim of drug consumption. Persons in jail have a right to a drug-free environment."
Ministry reaction
Reacting, the Home Affairs Ministry said no prisoners were taken to hospital or the Paola Health Clinic as a result of overdose.
It said that whenever inmates are suspected to have abused of drugs they are duly tested but there were no cases of overdoses in the past seven weeks.
The ministry said the prison authorities carry out frequent searches. Around 700 searches were carried out in prison cells since 1 April.
Inmates returning from work or medical visits outside the prison walls are also searched upon their return. Visiting relatives and prison officials are also searched. Dogs are used to search all visiting vehicles.
As a result of these searches there were a number of cases where drugs were found and the police were called in. This, the ministry said, showed that the PN was wrong in its assumtions.
The ministry said it was working with Caritas to give drug treatment to as many inmates as possible.
This was contrary to what happened under PN administrations, where nothing was done to deal with the well-known drug situation at the prison.
It said the PN had relied on a newspaper report without verifying the facts.