Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1502123
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 JUNE 2023 NEWS An unchecked marketplace CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 This newspaper was informed of the proliferation of N2O, being sold openly in Paceville during the week, to be con- sumed for its short and imme- diate high that also gives users a sense of relaxation, euphoria and detachedness for a few sec- onds. But apart from this high, N2O can also bring about dizziness and disorientation, loss of bal- ance, decreased memory and cognition, and limb weakness: accidents such as tripping and falling may occur while intox- icated; even asphyxia has been linked to tragic incidents in- volving the substance. The gas is commercially avail- able in small canisters, which are then used to inflate balloons, for users to inhale the gas from. "A correlation does exist be- tween drugs that are addictive and drugs which give the user an immediate and short-lived high," Mike Orland, communi- ty services manager for national drug agency Sedqa told Malta- Today about the mainstream use of nitrous oxide, whose le- gality makes it relatively easy to purchase all around the world, including Malta. An unchecked marketplace This MaltaToday journalist paid a visit to the entertain- ment mecca, posing as a party- goer in search of the laughing gas vendor. Surprisingly, the search was short-lived as it was a dealer himself who came up to sell his wares – N2O was however not on the menu: "Brother, do you want coke?" While speaking to the dealer and asking about the availabil- ity of nitrous oxide, two club promoters walked up to the journalist and the dealer to ask for a lighter and tried to pro- mote a club to this journalist. Another older dealer stepped in to stop the promoters from poaching his colleague's cus- tomer; a "friend" was referred to the journalist to buy laugh- ing gas. "Peace and love," he said, shaking the journalist's hand. After the exchange, the drug dealers in the street became easily noticeable, as they com- municated between themselves, loitering outside the various clubs where young adults con- stantly walk by. The first dealer later walked back to this journalist, intro- ducing him to another friend, with negotiations for a balloon of laughing gas. "Three balloons for €10," said the salesman after hearing that the journalist on- ly wanted to buy one balloon. Ultimately, the two agreed on a price of €5 for one balloon. The journalist followed the ven- dor to what he thought would be a secluded area: the deal- er instead sat down at a table of a bar on the Paceville pla- za, joining an oblivious tourist who was enjoying a drink at the same table. The dealer proceeded to fill up the balloon with laughing gas and exchanged it for cash. "Do you have Snapchat or WhatsApp?" asked the dealer, informing the journalist he was only a message away. After the sale, walking back down St George's Street, and now packed with young foreign punters and English-language students, a pack of dealers were busy plying their trade with the revellers: "Hash? Coke?", they offered. No uniformed police in sight All throughout the night, no uniformed police officers could be seen near the densely packed area, leaving ample opportuni- ty for dealers to take control of the popular street. Paceville is no stranger to violent episodes, as the issue of a lack of police presence has been raised mul- tiple times in previous years. Glass bottles, knives, barriers and other objects all feature in brawls that sometimes domi- nate headlines following violent incidents in Paceville. One can only wonder if uni- formed-police presence in Paceville during weekdays, es- pecially during summer when the party hotspot is at its peak, can prevent the drug-running situation at the very centre of Malta's clubland. mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt The streets of Paceville become a bazaar for all sorts of drugs, including the latest fad of laughing gas balloons for a quick high