The Malta Police Force has continued its efforts to combat organised crime and drug trafficking through two separate operations carried out in recent hours in Malta and Gozo.

The operations resulted in the arrest of eight individuals and the seizure of more than 20 kilograms of a substance suspected to be heroin and over 8 kilograms of a substance suspected to be cocaine.

In the first operation, the Police followed up on information obtained during a previous investigation, in which a 49-year-old man had been arrested after being found in possession of a substance suspected to be heroin.

Further investigations revealed that the same individual was renting a garage in Żurrieq. The man was subsequently arrested again and escorted to the garage, where police officers discovered wooden panels fastened together, containing a concealed hollow compartment.

A van fitted with similar panels was also found inside the garage. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 7.7 kilograms of a substance suspected to be cocaine and 20.7 kilograms of a substance suspected to be heroin, as well as packaging materials, electronic scales and various other items believed to be related to drug trafficking.

In a separate operation in Gozo, the Police conducted surveillance on two locations in Qala and Rabat, which were allegedly being used by the same group of individuals to store and traffic drugs.

Yesterday evening, police officers entered the premises in Qala, where three people were arrested. Shortly afterwards, two other individuals arrived at the residence and were also arrested.

One of them attempted to flee but was immediately apprehended after discarding a bag containing eight sachets of a substance suspected to be cocaine.

Police officers subsequently proceeded to the second location in Rabat, where two individuals were arrested.

Further searches of the premises led to the discovery of approximately half a kilogram of a substance suspected to be cocaine at the Qala residence, while a small quantity of suspected drugs was found at the Rabat residence.

A total of seven people—six men and one woman—were arrested during the operation in Gozo.

Separate magisterial inquiries into the two cases have been opened by Magistrate Dr Joe Mifsud and Magistrate Dr Jean Paul Grech, respectively.

Police investigations into both cases are ongoing.