-from timesofmalta.com-

The police have arrested 19 men and a woman in six operations during which cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy were seized.

The first discovery of drugs was made on April 26 when the Drug Squad and Msida police arrested a man aged 28 from Marsa and a man aged 20 from Attard after they were found in possession of cocaine

The following day, three men aged between 19 and 22, all from Sta Venera, were arrested after they were found taking cannabis in a public garden in Sta Venera.

On Thursday, officers from the Drug Squad were deployed to two parties in Qawra and St Julians. At the former, five youths aged 16-28 from Dingli, Hamrun, Attard, Birkirkara and Mosta were arrested after they were found in possession of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine.

Four men and a woman aged 21 to 25 were arrested at the other party. They are residents of San Gwann, Ghaxaq, St Julians and Birkirkara. All were found in possession of drugs and two will also be accused of drug trafficking.

Last Friday, a 32 year old man was arrested in St Paul’s Bay after he was found in possession of 22 packets of cocaine which were about to be sold.

That was followed by the arrest of a Briton, aged 43 and resident of St Paul’s Bay, who were also in possession of cocaine.

On Friday-Saturday night two men aged 21 and 22, of Naxxar, were arrested at Dingli cliffs after they were observed taking drugs by a police patrol.

Investigations are continuing and arraignments will be made in the coming days, the police said.