Prisoner tested positive for drugs last month

A prisoner tested positive for drugs at the end of last month, home affairs minister Carmelo Abela confirmed.

In response to a parliamentary question by deputy PN leader Beppe Fenech Adami, Abela said that prison staff were informed on 30 June that two prisoners weren’t in their senses. One of the prisoners later tested positive for drugs, and the minister confirmed that disciplinary action will be taken against him.

He added that the police and a duty magistrate weren’t informed of the incident, because no physical evidence of the drug could be found.

“The prison authorities are working continuously to address the drug problems at Corradino that have been in existence for several years,” he said.

Abela last week said that there were 15 cases so far this year where prison officers found drugs at the prison or about to be taken inside it. Abela’s predecessor, Manuel Mallia, had in 2013 boldly pledged to eradicate drugs from the prison “once and for all”.