There were at least 14 drug finds in Malta’s prison during the first eight months of 2019, pouring water on the Corradino Director’s claims that illicit substances have been “eradicated” in prison.

The figures were revealed by Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia during a parliamentary question.

With the exception of two cases, the drug finds were all discovered by a scanner. All of the cases are currently being investigated.

Since taking over the facility a year ago, Dalli has made it his mission to clamp down on issues inside the prison, with fights also substantially decreasing. He has even restricted visitation rights and conjugal visits.

“There are no drugs in prison – we have eradicated them,” Colonel Alexander Dalli had told a court in July while testifying in a case concerning one of the prison’s inmates.

While the low number of 14 drug finds in under eight months could be positive, there may also be a number that have simply not been discovered.

A European study found that 43% of those who were sentenced to jail in Malta had abused illicit substances before they entered prison.

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