Sacked soldier reveals ‘cocaine party’ at Hal Far barracks, AFM launches investigation

The Armed Forces of Malta has launched an internal inquiry into allegations that soldiers held a “cocaine party” at the Hal Far barracks, two weeks ago. 

The allegations were first brought to light by former soldier Godwin Schembri, an officer who was sacked after a mobile phone video of him mocking an ineffective gate at the mouth of the AFM’s shooting ranges, did the rounds on social media.

Posting a series of questions on Facebook to AFM Commander Jeffrey Curmi, Schembri posted a series of messages sent to him on the alleged cocaine party held by uniformed personnel.

Schembri asked Curmi whether the allegations were true, while also claiming that a certain soldier had refused to take a drug test after the incident. “Is it true that members of the B Company used drugs at the barracks, and were later assigned to protect the French embassy while carrying guns with loaded ammunition?” his Facebook post read.

In a statement, the AFM confirmed that while all soldiers involved have taken a drug test, and did not test positive for drugs, an individual refused to do so and was dismissed immediately. “The AFM has zero-tolerance when it comes to the use of illegal substances,” the army said.

The army will now wait for the conclusions of the inquiry before taking any necessary measures.