200 prisoners tested positive for drugs in past two years

203 prisoners at the Corradino Correctional Facility responded positively to drug tests between 2013 and 2014, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela revealed. However, 1,978 of the drug tests carried out between that same time period resulted in negative results.

He was answering in response to  question by Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis.

In response to a separate question by the same MP, the home affairs minister also said that 2,829 drug-related inspections were carried out at the prison between October 2013 and December 2014.

“On some occasions, drug-sniffing dogs were also used,” Abela. “Whenever prisoners are found with drugs, the police investigate the case and take steps in court against the people concerned.”

Responding to a third question by Agius Decelis, Abela also revealed that seven prison-visitors were found with drugs on their person following inspections between April 2013 and December 2014.