Cyrus Engerer: ‘AFM Weed Theft Shows Malta Needs A Defence Upgrade’
Former PL MEP Cyrus Engerer said the theft of a large quantity of weed from an AFM barracks should serve as a wake-up call that Malta needs to spend more on defence.
“Let’s call a spade a spade: Malta’s security and defence systems need an upgrade,” Engerer said.
“When a bunch of young people can casually break into the Armed Forces’ barracks and walk off with more than 200kg of drugs that should have been guarded by the armed forces… well, it’s not exactly the plot of a high-budget heist movie, it’s a wake up call.”
“It’s no secret that our Armed Forces are stuck using outdated tech that makes their job harder, not easier.”
Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed that Malta has no intention of spending a single cent from the €800 billion ReArm Europe defence package that all EU leaders recently endorsed.
However, Engerer urged him to reconsider, warning it would be “foolish not to seize the opportunity”.
“This isn’t about gearing up for war. It’s about strengthening a key pillar of our democracy. It’s about ensuring that those tasked with protecting us actually have the tools to do so,” he said.
“We’re not living in a bubble. As the Greek Prime Minister rightly said, defence in the Mediterranean matters and Malta should have strong security and defence systems, to keep us safe.”
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