A major night operation by the police force on Monday night saw a raid on a drug dealing den and multiple arrests related to illegal immigration in Marsa.

Police said in a statement that it carried out a major operation against drug trafficking, organised crime, and irregular immigration on Monday night between 8pm and 1am of Tuesday morning.

The operations were largely focused on establishments and residences in Marsa, but there were also raids at residences in Hamrun and Naxxar.

Police said that after a number of days of investigations and observations on the rooms in Triq il-Gerrejja in Marsa, the police surrounded one of them which was allegedly being used as a hub to sell drugs out of.

A man was found in the room and arrested, and a search on site resulted in the finding of 385 packets of cocaine, 250 packets of heroin, and 45 packets of synthetic cannabis which were in small bags ready to be sold.

A considerable amount of money, a stolen motorcycle, a metal knuckleduster, a knife, a number of mobile phones, CCTV camera equipment, and other objects related to drug trafficking.

The operation also included inspections in a number of roads in Marsa – inspections which turned up 67 people who were living in Malta illegally.

These people were all arrested and taken to the Detention Centre where the process for their deportation to their country of origin or to the country where they can legally reside will begin.

One arrest related to prostitution was also made, resulting in the confiscation of €4,600 in cash.

In conjunction with this operation, a search was also mounted in a residence in Naxxar, where police found some €10,500 in cash and confiscated two vehicles, a considerable amount of branded clothing, jewellery and an unspecified number of mobile phones.

Duty magistrate Leonard Caruana is leading an inquiry.