Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543191
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS Six arrested in connection with alleged money laundering operation POLICE have arrested six people following a months-long inves- tigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department into alleged usury and money launder- ing activities. Police carried out an operation on Monday morning at Stief- nu Zerafa Street and Santissima Trinita Street in Marsa, where the suspects allegedly operated their business. Investigators have so far identified around 50 victims. Officers seized thousands of eu- ros in cash, exotic animals, and other items considered relevant to the ongoing investigation from several residences along these streets. Magistrate Joe Mifsud is leading an inquiry into the case, while po- lice investigations remain ongo- ing. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt Police investigation uncovers alleged money laundering with around 50 victims across Marsa Photo: Police Communication Office Archbishop warns against 'viper of calumny' in St Paul's feast homily Archbishop Charles Scicluna says society must learn to reject false accusations and hasty judgements that poison reputations ARCHBISHOP Charles Sci- cluna called on people to fight against gossip, false accusations and hasty judgements in his homily, marking the feast of St Paul. Scicluna presided over the pon- tifical mass on Tuesday morning at St Paul's Shipwreck Collegiate Church in Valletta. The feast is a public holiday. He likened false accusations to the viper that bit St Paul's hand when he was shipwrecked in Malta, which led the Maltese at the time to believe it was pun- ishment for being a murderer. The false impression was dis- pelled when Paul shook off the snake and nothing happened to him. "The viper becomes an image of calumny, of hasty judgements and of the venom of words that can destroy a person's reputa- tion," Scicluna said. The archbishop urged the faithful to shake off the snake and be measured when speaking about each other. "If I am not certain of some- thing, I should keep quiet. God forbid that when we pass judge- ment on each other we do so ma- liciously," the archbishop said. He urged people to be agents of truth not lies. "The choice is in our hands," he said. The state's highest authori- ties attended the mass, includ- ing President Myriam Spiteri Debono, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia, Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti and Opposition leader Alex Borg. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna (Photo: Curia)