Alleged drug dealers charged
Two foreigners were this evening charged with their involvement in importing about a kilo of cocaine and heroin into Malta.
Portuguese Paco Carmona Alves, 19, allegedly acted as the courier and imported the drugs that were destined to Nigerian immigrant John Michael, 35, who lives at the Marsa open centre.
Both men were charged with conspiring to deal in heroin and cocaine and importing and trafficking in the drugs on and before yesterday.
Mr Alves alone was also charged with the possession of the drugs with the intent to sell them.
The police said that Mr Alves was arrested at the Malta International Airport soon after he landed in Malta from Germany on Friday afternoon. Customs officials found that he had drugs hidden in a false bottom in his shoes.
Investigations led the police to Bugibba where Mr Alves’ was meant to deliver the drugs and they arrested Mr Michael.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
27 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
s.koludrovic
Aug 8th 2010, 11:48
Sub Saharian Africa, and in particular Nigeria have become the main hub for the scams and the trafficing of cocaine from Colombia to the EU.
All it actualy needs is a free cellphone kindly donated by our ever so generous NGOs and they are in business.
Louise Vella
Aug 8th 2010, 10:51
We cannot do anything about the Portuguese, except take him to court, because he is an EU national. In any case most Portuguese in Malta are tourists and they bring in money.
The Nigerians are different. Nigeria is a huge country rich in oil and mineral resources. Nigerians do not qualify for refugee status. So Nigerians in Malta enter illegally and are staying illegally. Reading the law reports in www.timesofmalta.com, it is obvious that many of them get into trouble with the law. In many cases it involves drugs trafficking. Given all these circumstances, what is stopping the government of Dr Gonzi from rounding up the hundreds of Nigerians staying illegally in our country and organising a charter flight to take them back to their own country?
colin stanley
Aug 8th 2010, 10:45
Who are the traffickers? here we have it. John Michael, who lives at the open center, for FREE.yet he can afford to import, drugs that are worth thousands of euros, when these so called, poor refugees land in Malta are they not properly searched, how can this guy have so much money. I will bet anyone, that within ten years we will have more foreign inmates in our prison than Maltese.
T Camilleri
Aug 8th 2010, 11:11
colin stanley we already do.
S. Agius
Aug 8th 2010, 10:32
@ Robert Callus The saying in Maltese goes “ Ma ninhbewx wara subghajna” Your stance in favor of these illegals is well known. Recently you were part of the effort for them to start receiving social benefits. While I fully understand your position against corruption, I will never understand the position pro-illegal immigration also because it is becoming another door for drugs. Yes this article is all about illegal immigration.
T Camilleri
Aug 8th 2010, 11:10
S. Agius you can start to understand it when you consider that apart from receiving funds for acting on behalf of illegal immigrants you will also go for a free visit to the USA.
S. Agius
Aug 8th 2010, 08:32
@ Robert Callus. It is easy to say that these two are just couriers. I would like to remind you that this is not the first time that a resident of the Marsa Open Centre is charged with drug related charges. These are people who we know nothing about. It would be a good thing to integrate them in Maltese society if they were genuine refugees but I m afraid the majority are not.
Robert Callus
Aug 8th 2010, 09:51
Pls read my comment and that of Mr Oatman again. It has absolutely nothing to do with nationality/immigration etc but drug trafficking. In no way I am saying these people should not be charged and imprisoned if guilty. Far from that. What I am saying is that unless we fight the real reason why drugs will continue infesting this country - CORRUPTION - we will never win against the drug lords.
j mallia
Aug 8th 2010, 06:46
@mr oatmon, you're watching too many movies mate.
Joseph Micallef
Aug 8th 2010, 09:03
If Mr. Oatman is watching too many movies I would suggest that you have your head buried in the sand without knowing it!
C Galea
Aug 7th 2010, 23:06
I'm not contesting the naming, but child abusers should be named the same way as drug dealers are.
They both ruin lives after all.
clare spiteri
Aug 7th 2010, 22:51
These foreigners should be charged and deported to their respective countries.Why is a nigerian in the marsa center for refugees? Nigeria is a very prosperous country full of natural resources, deport him and let his compatriots deal with him.As for the portuguese, I say deport him as well and ban him from coming to Malta again.I do not want my taxes to go to supporting these people.
s.koludrovic
Aug 7th 2010, 21:31
The monthly 100 euros allowance our NGOs gave this guy sure went a long way.
G Falzon
Aug 7th 2010, 20:51
I wish to hear the comments of Fr Mark Montebello and the Jesuits and the Refugees Bodies on this.
s.koludrovic
Aug 7th 2010, 21:48
You won,t hear a peep from those guys. In this instant silence is golden.
J. J. Borg
Aug 7th 2010, 22:53
If they were to comment they would tell you that there are good people and bad people everywhere. At this moment there are Maltese incarcerated in Tunisia, Italy, Brazil and elsewhere in relation to drugs trafficking.
lgalea
Aug 8th 2010, 09:54
J. J. Borg but we don't need foreign ones borg especially illegal immigrants.
Darren galea
Aug 7th 2010, 20:17
If they were only dealing marijuana, I wouldn't really mind it at all. It's a drug that's been to shown to quite safe, at least a hell of a lot safer than tobacco smoking.
Heroine and cocaine on the other hand ruin people's lives.
Norman Tonna
Aug 7th 2010, 19:48
It meant trouble letting these imigrants on our shores. They are only in Europe for one purpose and that is to get rich quick. How many so far have been brought to our courts for some reason or other. These people will only bring heartbreak to our island and the sooner they are sent back the better. These are all rejects from their own countries!
Joseph Vassallo
Aug 7th 2010, 20:45
Yes, some of them seem to be doing very well indeed, judging by the cars they now drive. They came with nothing, they have no work and supposedly send part of their income back to their families in their country of origin but suddenly they can afford a flash car.
So, are we developing a sector of dealers, pushers, pimps and gigolos now?
They say that what goes round comes back round; if anyone remembers Soho in the fifties and sixties, could this be a case of the game coming home?
Joseph Calleja
Aug 7th 2010, 21:23
" These are all rejects from their own countries!" A good example of that is of Cuba sending their worst of offenders to the USA. Another is of the Mexican Drug Cartel infiltrating the border towns of the US and taking the law into their own hands. So Malta has a very slim chance of eradicating these drug importers and pushers. Malta has one advantage and it is a small island and if the law is applied properly drug dealers can be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, barring corruption.
T Camilleri
Aug 8th 2010, 09:58
Joseph Vassallo you are right. Some of them even give their address as Port Tomaso Tower and companies names when Maltese citizens are not even making ends meet.
Antoine Grima
Aug 7th 2010, 19:28
Lock them up and throw the keys away.Get rid of the scum roaming our streets and poisoning our youngsters
Joseph Calleja
Aug 7th 2010, 19:27
Now here is the big chance to cut out part of the cancer. Next step is to find out who the main man is. Drug trafficking is like a bad weed and you have to plug it out from the root.
" the drugs that were destined to Nigerian immigrant John Michael, 35, who lives at the Marsa open centre". Now there is a surprise. How can these people be incarcerated and yet they are dealing drugs? What a set up? Be sure to repatriate this individual asap so he can contribute to the Maltese economy. Maybe the bleeding hearts can give him a good recommendation.
Charles Micallef
Aug 7th 2010, 19:19
It is hard to understanding how some one who is suppose to be living 'on the breadline' at the Marsa Open Centre have sufficient funds to deal in 1 kilo of drugs which is worth a few thousand euros, am I missing something?
J Oatmon
Aug 7th 2010, 19:53
Drugs will not be eradicated from Malta, because of the following: -
1. Drug sales produce tons of cash, with plenty spare to 'make problems go away', and buy 'protection' if necessary.
2. The police and courts, can be, and are subject to corruption or threats (in Malta the recent 'chief justice' scandal for example).
3. Many groups benefit from drugs (leaving aside the importers, dealers, and the pushers), through turning a blind eye and saying nothing, they are rewarded no doubt.
4. There are plenty of criminals in Malta prepared to trade in drugs.
5. The demand is there from the kids.
6. In Malta drunk drivers don't even get prosecuted - so there is no enforcement, it is just the occasional 'small fry' who are caught (mainly non Maltese), and most probably the customs/police are tipped of by the big dealers, who don't want competition - so the police look good, courtesy of tip offs from 'unknown persons'.
Robert Callus
Aug 8th 2010, 01:14
@J Oatman
I believe the only way that is directly effective in curbing this drug malady is prevention. However, obviously there needs to be law enforcement. In my opinion (also made in many of your points) this is hindered to a single thing - CORRUPTION.
Here we mostly read about couriers. But where are the big guns? The BRAINS behind the deals? Is it because they do not know who they are? Yes, sure!