Cannabis confiscations on the rise, as police seize 21kg of cocaine

The police seized more than 21kg of cocaine in 2016, in line with the amount seized the previous year but four times the amount seized in 2014, as well as 303g of heroin.

Data tabled in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo, in reply to questions put to him by Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis, showed that police seized 21,433.95g of cocaine and 7.538 of crack cocaine in 2016.

5,272g of cocaine were seized in 2014 and 21,235g in 2015.

Last year, the police seized more than 108kg of cannabis resin (up from 70kg in 2015), nearly 12kg of cannabis grass (compared to 4kg the previous year), eight cannabis seeds, 88 cannabis plants and 73 joints.

Malta’s drug legislation was amended in 2015 making simple possession of small quantities of drugs (up to two grams, or two pills of ecstasy or similar substances) subject only to fines ranging from €75 to €125.

Under the new law, anyone found in possession of less than 3.5g of cannabis became liable to fines of between €50 and €100.

Police also seized 3,739 ecstasy pills, two pieces of LSD, 8kg of ketamine and 5.9kg of khat, as well as 4g of mephedrone, 444g of MDMA powder and 113.8g of legal highs.