Eight people have been arrested while a total of 85kg of cannabis resin has been recovered by police in connection with 200kg the drug theft from an AFM barracks on Sunday.

Addressing the media during a press conference on Tuesday at the Floriana Police Headquarters, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa said that the first arrests on Tuesday took place at 1 AM in Haz-Zebbug.

He said that 4 men were arrested in an apartment, with 36 kg of resin being recovered from a vehicle.

Gafa continued that a 23-year-old man was then arrested in the Marsa locality at 7:45 AM, with 34 kg of resin having been recovered from a Zabbar garage which was linked to him.

At 9:40 AM, a 34-year-old man was arrested in Qormi, and 10 kg of resin was found in a San Gwann field.

The last set of arrests on Tuesday, the Police Commissioner stated, occurred in Qormi as well, with two men – a 25-year-old and a 23-year-old – being arrested at 12:45 PM. He added that 5 kg of resin was discovered at a Pieta residence.

Cannabis grass and cocaine unrelated to the weekend theft were also found at the residence and seized, Gafa said.

The Police Commissioner said that all 8 of the arrested individuals are Maltese nationals, with some of them having been known to the police prior.

Gafa said that the resin which was stolen on Sunday was first captured on June 17th 2024 when 4 tonnes of resin were intercepted at the Freeport. He added that the police were informed of the theft on AFM premises early in the morning on Sunday at 3:45 AM, when the container was found to have been opened.

The drugs were being held on the premises at the request of the Court Services Agency due to the drugs being relevant to a magisterial inquiry.

Asked if a police officer had been guarding the premises when the theft took place, Gafa responded that by law, it is the responsibility of the Court to look after items which are exhibited as part of criminal proceedings or a magisterial inquiry. He said that when the drugs were given to the possession of the AFM, the police were no longer requested to look over it.

Gafa did not provide more details about the suspects or investigations, saying that proceedings were still ongoing and that it would be imprudent to share anything further.