The National Security Committee has reported that in 2013 the Security Service strengthened its relations with foreign intelligence agencies and was very active in the fight against drug trafficking, the terrorism threat, organised crime and irregular immigration.
The 2013 report, dated March 2014, was tabled in Parliament today by the Prime Minister just hours after he had a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition in the Committee.
The Security Service said its Research section had also worked on strengthening the capacity of remote surveillance and the maintenance of the system of lawful interception.
Earlier this month, Times of Malta reported that Malta’s Security Service sought to use the services of a controversial hacking company linked to several repressive regimes, according to leaked e-mails.
A spokeswoman for the Home Affairs and National Security Ministry said however that while it was normal practice for personnel attending such conferences to contact possible suppliers of products and services that appeared to be of interest, in this case, an e-mail requesting unacceptable conditions was ignored. No contact was made with the company.
In its report today, the Security Committee said that the Security Service had improved intelligence gathering related to crime and terrorism.
It had improved its capacity on an international level, to assess if Malta was being used for terrorist activities, money laundering, or the trafficking of drugs, weapons of mass destruction, other weapons or people.
It was involved in assisting other agencies in fighting organised crime, including terrorism and had monitored foreign agents in Malta.