Nine held over drugs possession

Nine people were arrested after allegedly being found in possession of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis during two separate police raids on Saturday night.

Six people aged between 17 and 27 were held during a party in Ta’ Qali, the police said yesterday. They are from Senglea, Paola, Birkirkara, Cospicua, Santa Lucia and Fgura.

Three others, aged between 22 and 24 – two from Kalkara and one from Vittoriosa – were arrested after they were allegedly found in possession of cannabis during a police raid in Cottonera.

Investigations are ongoing but the police said the young people were expected to be arraigned in the coming days.

The police also said that, last Wednesday, they successfully concluded an investigation into the trafficking of heroin by a 35-year-old man from Safi.

He was arrested after allegedly being found with 17 sachets of heroin and was charged in court with trafficking heroin in a place frequented by young people.

He was also charged with breaking his bail conditions from a previous case when the court banned him from going near places where young people met, which is where he was observed, monitored and arrested, the police said.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman refused bail and he was remanded in custody.