It was a busy week for both the Maltese Police and the police in Sicily, who conducted two large and separate operations this week.
The Maltese Police, together with Customs officials, seized a shipment of up to 113kg of cocaine that was headed to Libya. The drugs were discovered in a container at the Malta Freeport that had arrived from the port of Moín in Costa Rica. The shipment was declared as carrying industrial hydraulic pistons, but the cocaine was found hidden inside secret compartments in the machinery.
The operation lasted around 14 hours and involved Customs officials, the Police Drug Squad, forensic experts, sniffer dogs and members of the Civil Protection Department. A Magisterial inquiry has been opened, and Police investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation, Italian anti-mafia investigators issued a European Arrest Warrant for a suspect in Malta as part of a major operation targeting an alleged transnational drug-trafficking network linked to Sicilian mafia clans.
The operation, codenamed “Abisso”, was led by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza and coordinated by the Catania anti-mafia prosecutors. Italian media reported that 15 arrests were being carried out across Catania, Cosenza, Lecce, Prato, Reggio Calabria, Siracusa and Malta.
The suspect in Malta has not yet been clearly identified. What is known so far is that Italian authorities activated a European Arrest Warrant in Malta as part of the same investigation.
The investigation concerns an alleged criminal organisation trafficking cocaine, hashish and marijuana between Sicily and Malta. Prosecutors are alleging, among other offences, organised drug trafficking, drug dealing, threats and illegal possession of firearms.
Italian reports say the alleged network operated with the aggravating circumstances of transnationality and mafia facilitation. Investigators believe the group was linked to the Cappello-Bonaccorsi clan in Catania and the Santa Panagia clan in Siracusa. Italian authorities also seized assets worth around €700,000, including cash, vehicles, properties and a food-and-beverage business.
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