There is very clearly an illegal drug trade in Malta.

The authorities, especially the police, have been cracking down, making a number of arrests and seizures of illegal drugs in the country in recent years. Just last week, the police arrested four people in a drug trafficking operation.

In a statement, the police said that a search of the vehicle in which three of the four were arrested uncovered a quantity of pills suspected to be ecstasy, as well as a white powder believed to be cocaine. Following the vehicle stop, police carried out coordinated searches at multiple residences linked to the suspects. During these raids, another person was arrested, and additional drugs were seized. The confiscated substances included approximately 400 ecstasy pills, ketamine, methamphetamine, cannabis, and synthetic cannabis.

On Monday, the Times of Malta published a news story about rehabilitation statistics provided by the OASI Foundation. It reports that the number of people receiving therapy for crack cocaine shot up between 2023 and 2024. It reported that in 2023, 19% of the 233 people who received therapy at the foundation were dealing primarily with crack cocaine addiction. In 2024 this shot up to 35% of the 217 people.

Drug addiction is crippling. It impacts not only those taking the drugs, but also their loved ones, and can also lead to the addicted individual committing further crimes to fund the purchase of illegal drugs. It is a vicious cycle.

The authorities over recent years have made a number of major drug finds. For instance, in May the police carried out a successful operation at the Malta Freeport that led to the arrest of a man and the seizure of €2 million worth of drugs. In November last year, 100 kilograms of suspected cocaine, with a street value of around €14 million, was seized at the Freeport.

But the fight against drugs continues.

The victims of drug use must be given all the support they can have to beat their addiction, and return to living normal lives. Here, a number of organisations provide support to those who need it, and programmes are available to help addicts.

At the same time, drugs that are seized must be held securely. Let's not forget that drugs had been stolen from the AFM Barracks just earlier this year, an issue which showed lax protection of seized drugs. A number of people had been charged in court over the heist.

One hopes that security measures have been improved, significantly, to prevent any repeat of such a heist.

The police and other authorities must remain ever vigilant and continue to investigate, catching those responsible for importing illegal drugs into the country, and those who distribute them.

The job of these police officers is not easy, and is not safe. Catching those at the top takes time, but is the best way to cripple the drug trade. These officers must be given all the resources they require to continue on in their fight.