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local
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Party chiefs explain their policy
over drug traffickers
The recent arraignment of Zebbug businessman, Norman Bezzina, in
connection with a Canada-Malta drug smuggling ring has rekindled
the issue of drug links to politics.
Mr Bezzina acted as a consultant for Nationalist minister Louis
Galea until 1994.
However, asked by MaltaToday, PN Secretary General Joe Saliba insisted
that none of the eight persons arraigned in court is currently connected
to the Nationalist Party.
Reacting to the connections that have surfaced between the drug
scene and the Nationalist Party over recent years, Mr Saliba was
adamant that the Nationalist Party condemned drug trafficking and
insisted that whenever people were found to be involved in such
criminal acts, they were removed from the party.
"This is the difference between us and the Labour Party,"
he said. "We took concrete action and sidelined people like
Norman Bezzina. The Labour Party chose to defend the convicted drug
baron, Meinrad Calleja."
He insisted that all drug traffickers, whether they are Labourites
or Nationalists, pose a threat to Maltese society.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Labour Party Secretary General Jimmy Magro
said that the party would not defend anybody accused or found guilty
of drug trafficking.
"The Labour Party condemns all drug barons and the police should
take action against all people involved in such crimes, whatever
the case may be," he said.
Mr Magro added that the party’s central administration continuously
warned district committees to keep a look out for shady characters
who may frequent the MLP local clubs.
Yesterday, the Police arraigned the eighth person in connection
with the 2kg cocaine bust. He is 45-year-old Emmanuel Gauci, from
Qormi, who works as a Customs Officer at the Marsa post office.
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