Police make drug-related arrests on New Year's Eve

Three people will be charged of trafficking ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis and 17 others have been arrested following a spate of drug-related arrests on New Year's Eve.

An 18-year-old man was arrested after the police found more than 70 ecstasy pills, understood to be intended for trafficking during a party, in the teenager's bedroom at his family's home, the police said.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman was informed of the find.

The police mobile unit arrested two men, aged 30 and 32 from Mġarr and Gżira, near Zammit Clapp Hospital in St Julians after being caught in possession of heroin, methadone and ammunition.

The drug squad was out in full force in various localities, notably in entertainment hot spots at Ta' Qali and Paceville.

In a party at Ta' Qali, five men and two women, aged between 17 and 30 and hailing from Żurrieq, Marsascala, San Ġwann, Żabbar, Qrendi, Kirkop, Valletta and Qormi, were arrested after they were caught in possession of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis, the police said.

In Paceville, seven men aged between 17 and 61 and hailing from Fgura, San Ġwann, Żabbar, Marsascala, St Julians and Birkirkara were arrested for having cocaine and cannabis in their possession.

In a party in Ħal Farruġ, a 22-year-old man from Attard was arrested after being found in possession of cocaine.

A 22-year-old man from Msida was arrested in Msida where the drug squad found packets of cocaine ready to be sold.

The police said investigations were under way.