Police find cocaine capsules on American tourist
The police are holding a Puerto Rican-born New Yorker after he was found carrying cocaine capsules on his arrival in Malta from The Netherlands.
The 45-year-old man arrived in Malta yesterday afternoon. The operation was coordinated with Customs officials.
The man is expected to be arraigned soon.
An inquiry is being held.
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Dr John Damai
Aug 22nd 2010, 12:42
If a person was born in Puerto Rico than he was Puerto Rican with an American citizenship. If you were caught stealing in the U.S. they would say a Maltese person was caught stealing and not a European. Trying to attract readers by demonizing a country is cheap, and shows how desperate the media is to attract readers.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 22nd 2010, 14:07
And they would probably not have a clue to where Malta is. The Americans are notorious of not knowing where countries are situated geographically.
J.F. Vassallo Ebejer
Aug 22nd 2010, 14:31
@Dr. John Damai
Puerto Ricans are US citizens – Americans.
There is no need for the media to demonise the US, it is doing an excellent job of it on its own.
The US has been at the forefront in supporting the most murderous, fascist regimes in the world – from Central and South America to Africa, the Middle East and in the Mediterranean (especially Greece).
Paul Smith
Aug 22nd 2010, 11:27
I agree with carl,
i think J.Aquilina is seriously deluding themselves if they dont think that corruption goes on in the police force /drug squad.
Besides Malta is awash with hard and soft drugs. This American didnt just decide to head to Malta with coke, he obviously had a wealthy Maltese connection whom obviously still remains at large and will want to recoup his loses with the next drug donkey.
Nick Falzon
Aug 22nd 2010, 11:50
I agreed with you Paul. It would be very interesting to dig deep and find out how much of the coke that gets seized by the cops actually does get destroyed and how much somehow ends up in noses.
M Grima
Aug 22nd 2010, 10:58
Well done to all those involved in such operations. Oh come on let us cut the crap please!!! Can we citizens just say thank you for once! those people are risking their families lives in order to safeguard our community and this is the gratitude that we are showing them.
Once again....A BIG WELL DONE GUYS!
Karl Consiglio
Aug 21st 2010, 21:04
What do the police do with the drugs they find, how can we be assured the don't keep it for themselves, sell it and what not? I think the public needs to witness the disposal of such chemicals so as to have its mind at rest that there is no corruption going on.
J.Aquilina
Aug 22nd 2010, 03:32
Dear Mr Consiglio, are you serious?? Are you so uninformed how a country upholding rule of law operates.
Wouldn't it pass your mind that wiser men walked this nation before your time. Checks and balances exist to over see such procedures. Proof is that today we amongst the elite of the forefront block championing human rights and the rule of law. Therefore overseen by our peer EU memberstates and institutions.
On a final note, our lawenforcment people, sticking their neck for you and me to live with relative peace of mind, must be really glad to know of your gratitude and appreciation.
Marcel Dingli
Aug 22nd 2010, 09:34
Mr Aquilina, when i had merchandise confiscated and supposedly destroyed under my supervision, i found it on the market.
Marcel Dingli
Aug 22nd 2010, 11:09
Sur Aquilina, ghax poggejt nota dwar min ma kienx li kien qed ibiegh il merkanzija tieghi u ma ppubblikawiex.
Mario Skinder
Aug 21st 2010, 19:59
Why so much drugs like cocaine are coming to Malta. Malta is a good market for controlled substance drugs. It is a big demand for illicit drugs.
Paul Smith
Aug 22nd 2010, 11:33
Coke, heroin and cannabis are not controlled drugs, they are uncontrolled drugs and this is why prohabition does not work, costs the tax payer millions upon millions and will eventually break the system due to unafordability. Many countires are now realizing this and adopting different policies.
Alcohol and tobacco are the only real controlled drugs as they are regulated.
G.Azzopardi
Aug 21st 2010, 18:15
Well done.
These are but mules. It is good that such drug mules get what they deserve by the local courts, but I would think that are being commissioned to bring death to our shores by local drug lords. Which through this paper we have seen that most are Maltese and some, ironically are (legal or otherwise) emigrants.
These are the people that should be caught, have all their properties and money confiscated and sent to a very long sabbatical in prison to reflect upon their deeds, to reflect upon the deaths and misery and other related crimes on other citizens to sponsor a drug habit. Such trafficers should be given sentences of not less than a 100 years but not more than a 150 years, we have to be christian with them and make that trash hold.
Unless the police and the courts are going to co-operate we will have more of such mules. Mules or addicts that do not cooperate to catch their suppliers/bosses should also be severely punished.
A no nonsense approach on a small island like Malta can only help not hinder the eternal fight against drugs.
Charles Sammut
Aug 21st 2010, 16:55
Looks like the Corradino Community is about to get even stronger through more "Diversity."
Denis Catania
Aug 21st 2010, 16:47
That's it I'm not bringing my Purto Rican girlfriend to Malta. lol lol.
On a more serous note can the timesofmalta.com get involved with the show locked up abroad maybe they can show the world that Malta does not mess around when it comes to drugs. Some must think our police/ customs officers are not capable of catching these people. Boy are they wrong. Good job to our customs officers.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 21st 2010, 16:42
Wecome to Corradino amigo. there,s a few more from your part of the world,I,m sure you,ll get on fine with them.
W Spencer
Aug 21st 2010, 18:04
Now that Spain is allowing entry and Citizenship to any South Americans ( especially Mexicans & Cubans ) who can prove Spanish descent, there will be an influx of these people, who will then be free to settle in any EU Country.
Can imagine the Mexican drug lords will be happy about that, a direct route to Europe !!
Thomas Borg-Windebank
Aug 21st 2010, 20:30
Proving you have Spanish discent isn't that easy. Remember, we are talking many generations not your parents/grandparents. And Malta also has the same law - as long as you can prove that you have a Maltese bloodline, the passport is yours. Many other countries opt for this way since it prevents people going "on holiday" when pregnant and ending up giving birth in that country - making their child a citizen of the nation and therefore have rights to stay there which in turn give rights to the parents to settle there.
W Spencer
Aug 22nd 2010, 09:32
There has already been 141,000 applications accepted as genuine by the Spanish Authorities. So cannot be too difficult.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 22nd 2010, 10:49
Yeah the Spanish with their South Americans, the French with their North Africans and the British with their Pakistanis. the EU has ended up being dumping ground.
T Camilleri
Aug 21st 2010, 16:37
Goos Job. Let him rot in prison for being a death merchant for our youths.
A Gatt
Aug 21st 2010, 16:32
Why is there no mention of the amount found?
Charles Sammut
Aug 21st 2010, 17:15
Probably because it has not yet passed through his system. I wouldn't want to be the person to be separating the capsules from the rest of the ....... stuff.
Charles Micallef
Aug 21st 2010, 16:00
Yet again another feather in the cap of the authorities concerned..well done!