Police arrest 11 for drug possession at party

I can't help but agree with Ms Sutton 100%. And who said we are educated enough is the most ignorant person! Education is never enough and the maltese people are the least educated on this matter and this is because of people like you who keep this subject as a taboo. Young people can never know the dangers of drugs because it is something they are not given time to talk about, all they can do is try it out! And yes Maltese laws are very harsh! It is a shame that a person is arrested for smoking a joint! You can find that in all european countries and nobody is taken to court! It is either a fine or a slap on the wrist! I personally prefer a person smoking a joint rather then drinking a bottle of vodka which is easily available and challenging passers by to fight!
And I congratulate the police whenever they arrest a heroin/cocaine pusher like they have done recently. Those people are the real threat because those are the ones who turn to stealing and not the party goer who make recreational use of drugs!

@Alexander Galea

how about those people drinking excessivley put a badge also, and do not forget those who beat their wives and children if they have a bad day at work...those lovelies with a short fuse. also take note to create badges for those on valium, prozac etc.

i think you will make a profitable business!

with all these arrests, what was the quantity of drugs found on these persons??

@Joseph Farrugia - you might be killed by a 'drug' user but also by someone who is using the legal 'drug' alcohol.

I invite us all to do a little ‘experiment’. Sit down, grab a copy-book and have a good sharp look around us. Think about all the people we know aged 18 to 45 years. On the right hand side of the copy-book, we will put down the names of those people who we think or know never ever abused of any illegal substance; on the left hand side there will be those who we think or know have. I suggest we start by putting down our name first. I am sure that our results will vary, but I can also assure you that as long as the result of the test is honest and unless we come from that remote village in Malta called Wonderland, then we are all up to a nasty surprise. So, is it or is it not time we start tackling the issue appropriately and to the point? The future will duly open our society to different challenges; let us not be unprepared for the inevitable!

Mr Alexander Galea, the Second World War is over and people are no longer requested to carry badges around. You might want to have an ornate one up your shoulder if you so please, but please get real!

At the age of 37 I’ve had many, many friends, coming from various backgrounds and social classes. I can say for fact that a humble 80% of them has, at one point of his/ her life abused of an illegal substance. And I am quite sure that my sample of friends reflects the population per se, at least that part of the population born during or after the 1960’s. Does this make us all offenders and thus punishable by law? To be honest, I myself don’t know the answer to that question and am pretty sure that a concise and mature debate is much needed to take place by the respective authorities.

If the police starts to dig deeper into drug trafficking I bet a month's salary that we will be given a lot of surprises. I feel sure that the police know who are the drug traffickers, but.........

@ J. Mifsud

The Police did catch a pusher in Fgura 4 days ago with 30 sachets of coke or heroin ready tp be trafficked. Such arrests happen and are reported every week.

I guess you should visit this site more often becuase your comment is obviously based on lack of information.

The way to resolve the issue is not to penalise the consumers as is being suggested. As Amanda Sutton says it is true that the law is too harsh on users here. If less harmful drugs were legalised and strong information campaigns undertaken, it would take the wind out of the pushers' sails. After all, we is tobacco legal? It is a drug too. It is far more dangerous for drugs to be sold underground than legally because no one has any guarantee with what other substances they have been adulterated. By all means go after the pushers because they are unscrupulous about mixing substances which can cause users a lot more harm.

How about a search before they enter the premises? Yes they should take licence of the establishment.

@ ms amanda sutton

hope you are not serious in what you just wrote. first of all nowhere in this article says that it was a private party. secondly,i think you don't have children, as you will be more than worried about such situation. what if your child is caught in possession of drugs? or caught trafficking?? or worse....being a drug abuser???

i think that law is soft..and it has to be made harsher and yes they are a threat to the society, they start smoking cannabis, than they have to try something new...than, what about the money? how they are going to cope?...by stealing !! ...so they are a threat !!..be serious...

Keep it up and make it even harsher. There is enough education and awareness around about the danger of these drugs, we do not need any legalised junkies around. Pushers and dealers will not be around if these idiot consumers do not exist, there is no market where there is no consumer. If these people want to consume drugs, then they should pay for health services when they need them. They should also carry a badge saying they consume drugs. If they think that they are mature enough to consume drugs on a casual basis, then they should be responsible for it and let their employers know it. The victim is the tax payer and not drug abusers, let's stop playing moralists and tackle the problem. Same applies to smoking inside closed venues, police enforcement needs considerable improvement with supporting harsh penalties.

I think the law in Malta is too harsh on youths. I lived in Malta for 20 years and i felt it too. Even though i am not a recreational drug user,i think the law needs to be updated and not giving too harsh penalties for possession at least. Theyre young having fun,having the occasional use. These youths are NOT a threat of society. I think you should spend money on more important things than possession of drugs! Alcohol is even worsem, so why on earth is it still legal and underestimated? Let them have parties,they can be careful if they know what theyre using,which most of them do.,theyre not hurting anyone! PRIVATE party..there is a reason why says private! Drugs are highly overrated especially in malta. Look at the EU and the Netherlands,heard of any drug related deaths lately? NO because its controlled and people are informed about it,and its not a TABOO like in malta! You need to remove any taboos regarding drugs and tackle the facts not assumptions!

I would have been happier, much happier, had the police arrested a couple of sharks who are drug pushers and not some small fish. In a small country like ours I think it is not such a hard quest to eradicate a good percentage of drug pushers. The authorities have their ways and means to evaluate the way/style of living etc. of every individual.

Therefore, to be honest, do not expect me to jump with joy with these infantile bits of news. I expect more from authorities. Their utmost is way off target.

Keep it up AFM. You are doing a very good job.
Lill-Pulizija ngħidilhom li n-nies tas-Siggiewi dawn il-parties f'dan il-post limiti tar-Rabat iżda qrib is-Siġġiewi issa xebbgħuna. Kunu rgiel hudu passi biex aħna tas-Siggiewi inkunu nistgħu nistrieħu fil-kwiet bil-lejl, u mhux kull weekend nispiċċaw sas-sebħ b'dawk il-ħsejjes kollha. Sur Kummissarju qum minn hemm u ara x'qed jiġri f'dan il-post bil-Malti qed nikteb biex żgur intom li hemm fil-kwartieri tal-pulizija tifhmuni..

I think the organisers of these 'parties' should have their licence withdrawn. They just want to make easy money and do not care less about our children. My daughter was there, apart from drug takings there were also lots of people smoking inside. This made it unbearable for others who had to be carried away unable to breathe well.

Are there any controls on these organisers? Does the no smoking law still exists in Malta? We demand the authorities to take action before a serious tragedy takes place in one of these so called 'parties'.

There is nothing to rejoice for the news Mr. Fenech. It will be great news if the LORDS of supplying the drugs will be caught and brought to justice . These young lads are the victims and they together with their PARENTS will pass through a really HARD TIME.

why arent these roadblocks more frequent? when the AFM makes this roadblocks there's always a catch. we need these kind of exercises. and by the way nobody is treated like a dog. what does somebody expect? you'll be driving in peace with your family and get killed by a drug taker just for fun? i have nothing to be ashamed of so keep it up AFM keep up the good work.

Good. Great. The more they arrest and have sentenced, the better. Please dig deep and get the dealers and the pushers too. What mystifies me is that these "parties" and "night spots" always seem to be immune from prosecution. As far as I am aware, in most European countries, if drugs and drug taking happen in a "club" or "disco", these premises have their licence promptly revoked. Apparently not in Malta. For example, in another sphere, I know that public houses in the UK can have their licence withdrawn if under-aged persons are found drinking alcohol on the premises. Why are we different?