Three Maltese held on suspicion of human trafficking

Carmen Borg

Sep 21st 2009, 16:37

I am sure these human traffickers have direct links with human traffickers in Libya since it is a whole chain that collaborates and plans their departures from one place to the other, I sincerely hope that at least they will have the decency and show a bit of responsibility by giving out these names. This is just damaging our own country. No matter who the government is, the Maltese government alone cannot stop all this, instead of pointing our fingers to Cikku and Pawlu, we should show more tolerance, let's not forget that once we were immigrants as well.

Margaret De Battista

Sep 21st 2009, 07:51

Only 3 where caught, may all the others be caught as well: making money out of desperate persons who ended up in Malta by mistake. May this be a lesson to all those trafficers and stop trafficing people. Would they still traffic people if they do not pay the belli liri??

colin stanley

Sep 21st 2009, 00:56

I do know that the traffickers, are making money, who doesn't? do you expect them to do it for free. I know that some of you, have a personal reason why you like to see more of these illegals here, that is your opinion,and I would feel the same way, if I were in your shoes. But everyone knows that the vast mayority of the Maltese would like to see them leave. No I don't think that the PL will solve the problem, Maybe AN will, because they would do the same as the italians do. send them back. I am one who voted for the EU, We are finding out now that not everything is rosey in the EU. and also I don't thing that we are fully independent as we think we are.!!!

Mizzi Alfred.

Sep 20th 2009, 20:02

Yes Colin i would also give them a medal but not for the same reason as you commented on, i would be inclined to give these Maltese a big Gold medal for being the first Lot to ruin the country's image amongst our eu.partners.

Raymond Cachia

Sep 20th 2009, 13:55

Who says we cannot return them (illegal immigrant) back to Libya?

We can, we should but we do not. Why, because our elected representatives still act like we are under the thumbs of colonial rule - this time it is the EU. And we are still in awe and so grateful that they have let us 'in' the EU we do not dare to disobey our new masters.

Frankly, sticking to 'Treaties' that were entered in good faith when these treaties run counter to the national good is ludicrous and bad governance. No country in the world is obliged to act (or in this case not act) counter to its national interests.

And I do not see this situation changing anytime soon no matter who gets elected in Malta.

Those who are pushing for the integration of these illegals in Malta surely do not have our interests or that of our children at heart, but are sowing the seed for future conflict and the ruin of the Maltese nation and people.

We are now in the ‘boiling frog’ stage where they are getting us slowly used to having the illegals among us, the next stage would be full integration.

E.Schembri

Sep 20th 2009, 13:49

Whats the big deal! Every body knows about this boat.

A year ago it was berthed at Bugibba next to Gillieru. It was obvious that this boat is used for illegal trafficking as it is huge dark blue power boat with no windows or stickers, not even a registration number. Even a layman can tell that it is neither a leisure boat or a racing boat.
Anyways, out of the blue two black cars show up with some VIP's (FBI style). They boarded the boat and left in full view of the public. I'm sure they didn't got for a swim at Comino.

Yet no police was in site! I wonder if the authorities are truly unaware or purposely choose to ignore such activity as several bystanders stopped to watch. At least the Italians got them now!

Robert Callus

Sep 20th 2009, 11:44

@colin stanley

''I feel sorry for the maltese guys, who were caught, taking those illegal immigrants to Italy. After all this is where the africans wanted to go.''

These criminals do what they do for profit, not humanitarian reasons. Now they have become the good Samaritans???'
The problem is we talk a lot about human traffickers, irrespective on what part of the journey they are involved, yet we rarely see who these people are. They are rarely brought to justice. They seem to vanish into thin air (or are rich enough to have good 'friends')

P. Zammit

Sep 20th 2009, 10:09

@C.Stanley... you may want to give them a medal ... I hope that they are given a heavy prison sentence for human trafficking
@L.Vella... so long as Libya does not co-operate there isn't anthing the local government can do. Do I get it that, based on your comments, under a new Labour Administration we will have no immigrants on the island ?

p agius

Sep 20th 2009, 08:40

@ Colin

YOu're probably not realising that these canditated eligible for 'Gieh ir republika" are making loads of money out of a tragedy....

M Bagley

Sep 20th 2009, 08:14

A. Tabone - jitla minn jitla fil-gvern, xorta wahda ikun hawn traffikar ta kull tip u kollox. Bla dubju.

Trid tkun fidiel biex tghid li m'hawnx Maltin li qeghdin idawwru ewru jew tnejn minn fuq dar immigranti illegali.

W Spencer

Sep 20th 2009, 00:32

Name me a mixed tolerant society . Please do not say Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, America, Australia. So whats left ??

The Maltese allegedly involved know the ' illegal immigrant ' situation, BUT, money rules OK !

colin stanley

Sep 19th 2009, 22:57

I feel sorry for the maltese guys, who were caught ,taking those illegal immigrants to Italy. After all this is where the africans wanted to go . If it was up to me , I would give them a medal (gieh ir- republica ) for trying to rid us of some of the illegals.

Madalene Gafa'

Sep 19th 2009, 21:04

Yes we here for the weekend & we heared the news here in Sicily and by all account it spread to many other countries, cause my cousin happen to mentioned it from Melbourne, this is a nice advert for Maltese Image i must say: Welcome to Malta> it beats all the ads that are stuck on buses and bus stops in the UK, this will ocourse add more disrespect to our islands tourists wise i would imagine what with high prices,rude bus drivers, over charging in restaurants, and now this. Verynice indeed.

louise vella

Sep 19th 2009, 18:56

The worst of it all is that the 19 illegal immigrants will probably be sent back from Sicily to Malta. But the Maltese government cannot send them back to Libya and we shall have to lump them and keep them with our taxes. This is where GonziPN's 'Christian values' government has brought Malta to.

Michael Grech

Sep 19th 2009, 18:46

What? Maltese people involved in human trafficking? Doesn't the issue of immigration boil down to Muslim fundamentalists wanting to invade 'CHristian' Europe?

As to Tabone's daft comment, does his remark 'la l-gvern li rega tella l-poplu ma sabx soluzzjoni bis-sewwa' indicate that he is an MLP supporter? In that case, I would really be sorry about the state of socialism on our islands.

Stephen Vella

Sep 19th 2009, 18:38

So the Italians can detect small boats on their radar equipment and here in Malta the way we detect the illegal boats is when they hit the shore (when swimmers call the police). What kind of stone age technology do we have?

E Aquilina

Sep 19th 2009, 18:36

Let's just hope that the Italian Police will manage to crack what may be a human traffic ring commencing from Libya to Malta and onward Europe.

Joseph Calleja

Sep 19th 2009, 17:32

This is pure human trafficking and I'm sure it will be dealt with as such. So why can't Malta use the same tools to catch the human traffickers bringing illegals from Libya to Malta? Maybe find the mother ship/boat that's dropping off these people in dinghys close to the Maltese shores? The last dinghy with 68 people on board looked like brand new with a new outboard motor which broke down on the way to? I wonder how these people could afford to pay for this very expensive dinghy and yet the Maltese people have to support them upon their arrival in Malta?

Milena Aguis

Sep 19th 2009, 16:34

Mr Tabone,I thought you would be pleased these ttraffickers were caught and that they get what they deserve.What human being has a right over anyone else?
Il pajjiz qed jinqered bid droga more like and our children and future generations cos of it.I would rather have a mixed tolerant country

Sandro Pace

Sep 19th 2009, 16:33

Why is not the same being done on traffickers departing from Libya? ie radar following from departure to disembarkation on smaller boats, chasing the mother boat and arresting the crew, or firing if necessary? It can be done, but there is no will.

Is Frontex only good to spot them and bring the boats here?

A.Tabone

Sep 19th 2009, 16:03

La l-gvern li rega tella l-poplu Malti ghadu ma sabx soluzzjoni bis-sewwa, ahjar jonqsu milli jinqered il-pajjiz