The Security Service failed to send an agent to an international intelligence briefing about a criminal network that was infiltrating different states in the EU, a spokesman for the National Security Ministry has told The Times.
The competition and often animosity between the service and the police is an open secret
He was fleshing out comments critical of Malta’s intelligence agency made by Minister Manuel Mallia in Parliament on Tuesday night. The minister promised a reform of its operations.
The spokesman did not specify when the briefing took place and would not give more details, citing security considerations, but said it was one of a few incidents that the minister was referring to when he said the agency had been failing to network effectively with counterparts abroad.
The service, which is equivalent in terms of function to the American CIA and FBI rolled into one, was set up through a specific law in 1996. It is responsible for national security and intelligence gathering.
Over the years it has concerned itself chiefly with organised crime, particularly because of its powers to intercept phone calls after seeking a warrant from the Home Affairs Minister.
By its very nature, its work is carried out behind the scenes but some of these interceptions secured some of the country’s most high profile arrests, such as the arraignment of the former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and Judge Patrick Vella on corruption charges.
The service had started tapping the phone of drug dealer Mario Camilleri, L-Imnieħru, and established that he had bribed them to change his prison term.
But while some of this work was justifiable and needed, Dr Mallia said, the service should not make drug cases 70 per cent of its work, also considering there was a police department dedicated to the area.
He argued that the agency had lost sight of its primary role to look after State security and as a result landed itself in embarrassing situations where the head of the service even ignored invitations to strengthen networking.
“Malta was shown to be indifferent in an era of international information sharing,” he said.
He also said he would start insisting that new recruits have a tertiary level of education, with varied backgrounds in international studies, law and financial matters.
Sources close to the security service said that beyond questions of orientation, the agency also faced funding and human resources problems.
“The competition and often animosity between the service and the police is an open secret among people in the industry. These two institutions often compete on who goes to the minister first with a case but the problems are wider and include questions of funding,” the source said.
The service needs a complement of just over 50 but currently employs about 38.
Moreover, some of the agents are not among the best suited for the job, having moved to the agency after displaying an average performance in the police, another source said.
The rumour mill both in the police force and the security service is working on overdrive about potential changes at the helm of both institutions. However, the ministry spokesman would not comment on the matter.
The service is currently being run by an acting head, after the former chief, Godfrey Scicluna, suspended himself after he was charged with involuntary grievous bodily harm. He allegedly ran over a 91-year-old man in Paola by accident.
The service is also the target of a police investigation over the alleged disappearance of documents indicating corruption at Enemalta after they were passed on to Malta’s intelligence agency in August 2011.