Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/281887
4 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 MARCH 2014 CALL FOR COMMISSION MEMBERS AS PART OF THE IMPLEMETATION OF MEPA DEMERGER, GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING THE EMPLOYMENT OF COMMISSION MEMBERS. The Office of the Prime Minister is seeking highly motivated, well-qualified professionals to serve as Chairpersons and members of the Commissions. The Chairperson should hold a recognized qualification in Architecture and Civil Engineering or Planning or Environmental Management. Members will be chosen from amongst persons holding a degree in Members will be chosen from amongst persons holding a degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering, Planning, Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Cultural Heritage. Applicants are to have at least five years experience in their relative field. The Office of the Prime Minister is offering a four year appointment with a possibility of renewal for a further final period of four years. Applications, together with a detailed CV, should be sent to: human-resources.opm@gov.mt by not later than 7th April, 2014. Italian police chief says drug trafficking in Malta is 'flourishing' JURGEN BALZAN ITALIAN police arrested at least five drug couriers who tried to smug- gle drugs into Malta in recent months, with an Italian police chief claiming that "drug trafficking was flourishing" in Malta. The couriers were attempting to en- ter Malta by travelling on the catama- ran service between the two islands. The latest arrest was made last week, when the police discovered around 3.5kg of marijuana stashed in a bag car- ried by a Nigerian national. The man, Bashiru Bello, was arrested by the Italian police in collaboration with Pozzallo customs officers as he made his way onto the catamaran, which runs a daily service between the two islands. The drugs were concealed in cel- lophane, which the 30-year-old man carried in a backpack which also con- tained incense sticks to mask the odour and elude any sniffer dogs he might en- counter. All drug couriers who have been ar- rested over the last three months are either Nigerian or Ivorian. According to the Italian press, the five men were trying to smuggle over 12kg of mari- juana into Malta. However, the men are believed to be mere pawns in a trafficking ring involv- ing a criminal organisation operating in Sicily and central Italy. In February, the provincial police chief Alessandro Cavalli addressed a press conference in Pozzallo in which he explained that large quantities of drugs were being transported through the Pozzallo-Malta route. He put down the ease of couriers carrying drugs to Malta from Pozzallo down to the loose security controls at the Pozzallo harbour. "One wonders, for example, why don't these migrants, who start their voyage from Catania, travel from the port there? It's simply down to hav- ing sticter controls in Catania. Here in Pozzallo, Customs is closed in the evenings, creating a peculiar situation," Cavalli said, pointing out that Pozzallo was a strategic port for drug traffick- ers. Adding that large drug finds were made in recent months, Cavalli claimed that Italian police was "facing a privi- leged route towards Malta, where drug trafficking is flourishing." During the past months, the Malta Police Drugs Squad effected arrests and charged in court foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the traf- ficking of cannabis grass and cocaine, the smuggling of which is suspected to be through the Sicily-Malta route by ferry service. Speaking to MaltaToday, a police spokesperson said: "Naturally, the Police and Customs carry out regular coordinated interdictions and inspec- tions at all points of entry, including the seaport, in line with treaties and other obligations regulating port controls." However, asked whether the police had strengthened surveillance at the Marsa port where the catamaran pas- sengers land, the spokesperson said that it would be inappropriate to com- ment further on operational and other matters "since sensitive investigations are ongoing". In January 2014, three men, Jason Grima, from St Paul's Bay and two Spaniards, Unai Lacelle Zumeta and Jose Ramon Garate Lasarte, were re- manded in custody over charges of trafficking drugs from Sicily. The two men arrived in Malta on a catamaran from Sicily and were found in possession of 1.5 kilos of cannabis hidden in a suitcase with a false bot- tom. Grima denied charges of conspiracy to traffic cannabis, selling cannabis grass and possession of cannabis with intent to traffic, while the two Span- iards denied charges of conspiracy to traffic cannabis, importing the drug and selling it as well as possession of cannabis with intent to traffic. It is thought that the two men trav- elled all the way from Spain to Sicily by coach and brought over the drugs to Malta, only to be arrested upon their arrival in Marsa. jbalzan@mediatoday.com.mt The latest arrest was made last week, when the police discovered around 3.5kg of marijuana stashed in a bag carried by a Nigerian national Provincial police chief Alessandro Cavalli said that Italian police was "facing a privileged route towards Malta, where drug trafficking is flourishing"