Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri has sent shockwaves through government as he offered his resignation and suspended the Brigadier of the Armed Forces of Malta after drugs were stolen from a confiscated shipping container which was being stored on army premises.

It was initially unclear whether the Prime Minister had accepted Camilleri’s resignation offer or not, but Abela told journalists on Sunday afternoon that he had refused Camilleri's resignation and that an administrative inquiry would be appointed to look into the case.

A police statement later on Sunday morning confirmed the theft, saying that approximately 200kg of cannabis resin had been stolen. 

In a statement, Camilleri said that some weeks ago he was informed by the Permanent Secretary of a request by the Court Services Agency for some drugs that were caught at the Freeport be held at a place belonging to the Home Affairs Ministry due to industrial directives connected to the Freeport.

He continued that from then onwards, the Permanent Secretary said that it would be discussed with the Armed Forces of Malta Brigadier and from then on he had not been updated more about the discussions or how the matter had been concluded.

This morning however, the minister said, he was informed by the Police Commissioner that drugs from inside the container which was being held on AFM property had been stolen.

He said that he had demanded an immediate explanation from the Brigadier, who said that the container was in a zone where there was camera surveillance and patrols – but last night the container was breached and items were stolen from inside.

The Minister said that those who were on watch did not report any suspicious movement, but that the robbery was only discovered during a routine inspection.

The police was then informed and an investigation began together with a magisterial inquiry, the minister said.

Camilleri said that while investigations were ongoing, he had asked for the AFM Brigadier to be suspended until certain facts, including whether enough precautions had been taken to avoid such a robbery from happening, had been established.

“At the same time, I communicated with the Prime Minister and offered my resignation,” Camilleri said.

He said that he appreciates the continuous faith that the Prime Minister had in him over the years, and said that he felt that even though he had no role in the decision or its implementation, this is what is required.

“I am doing this because I believe that this is a serious case, but also with great serenity because for me public life was always only service to the public,” Camilleri wrote.

The AFM Brigadier is Clinton J O'Neill.  He succeeded Jeffrey Curmi in the role in June 2022.

In a statement, the Malta Police Force said that approximately 200 kilogrammes of cannabis resin had been stolen from the shipping container, and that it was informed of the theft at around 3am on Sunday.  Magistrate Antonie Agius Bonnici is leading the inquiry into the case.

In a statement, the PN’s Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, said that Prime Minister Robert Abela must act in the interest of the Maltese people and accept Camilleri’s resignation.

Carabott also said that Abela was “immediately explain the facts of the case in the most detailed and rigorous manner” and what “structural failures” led to the theft.  He also said that Abela should “immediately dismiss the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for the Interior, under whose authority this shocking case took place.”

“It cannot be that no one pays for their actions in the Labour Government, and Robert Abela is responsible for this”, Carabott said, as he also noted that Abela had not mentioned the scandal in his Sunday political event at all.