In recent hours, the Police have arrested eight people and discovered 28 kilogrammes of drugs during two separate operations in Gozo and Malta over drug trafficking.
The Police said that coordinated raids on properties in Qala and Victoria, Gozo, resulted in the arrest of seven people and the seizure of drugs. Properties were allegedly being used for the storage and trafficking of drugs by the same group of persons.
Subsequent searches of the two properties found around half a kilogramme of suspected cocaine in Qala and a smaller quantity of suspected narcotics in Victoria, making the total number of arrests in Gozo to seven, six men and one woman.
One suspect was apprehended after allegedly attempting to flee the scene in Qala and discarding sachets containing a substance suspected to be cocaine, the Police said.
In Malta, investigations led officers to a garage in Zurrieq where hidden compartments concealed within timber panels were discovered. Searches resulted in the seizure of around 7.7 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine and 20.7 kilogrammes of suspected heroin together with drug paraphernalia.
Separate Magisterial Inquiries have been appointed by Dr Joe Mifsud and Dr Jean Paul Grech.
Police investigations are ongoing.