Police Say Botched Swieqi Raid Was Linked To €9 Million Cocaine Bust
The Malta Police Force has clarified that the Swieqi raid, during which officers allegedly stormed the wrong home, was part of a high-risk anti-drug operation linked to one of Malta’s largest cocaine seizures in recent years.
According to the police, the operation was conducted under warrants issued by a duty magistrate and formed part of a wider investigation into alleged drug trafficking between Malta and Gozo. Officers recovered 76 kilograms of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of around €9 million.
The drug haul was discovered following several days of surveillance. On Tuesday, police stopped a vehicle at the Imġarr Gozo port, uncovering 18 kilograms of suspected cocaine inside. A search of the suspect’s residence in Xagħra led to the discovery of a further 58 kilograms, as well as multiple vehicle registration plates.
A 45-year-old Croatian national was arrested in connection with the find and is expected to be charged in the Gozo Court, before Magistrate Dr Simone Grech, in relation to the bust.
The police said they are unable to provide additional details “so as not to prejudice ongoing legal proceedings.”
However, the clarification follows reports from four residents living in a duplex apartment on Swieqi Road, who claimed they were mistakenly targeted by a heavily armed unit during the same operation on 14th October.
The residents allege that around 15 officers wearing balaclavas broke into their home without identifying themselves, pointing rifles at them and ordering them to kneel. They said they only realised the intruders were police after hearing them shout “pulizija” while storming the neighbouring apartment.
One resident described having a semi-automatic rifle pressed to his forehead, while others said they were handcuffed or cable-tied. The group has since filed a judicial protest claiming their rights were violated, including the right to liberty, security, privacy, and protection from inhumane treatment.
They are demanding the preservation and release of body-camera footage and operational records from the incident. The residents are represented by Edward Gatt, Mark Vassallo, Shaun Zammit, and Carina Nagiah, and are holding the Police Commissioner and State Advocate responsible for any damages suffered.
While police have not confirmed whether the apartment involved in the mistaken entry was directly linked to the drug investigation, the statement suggests the Swieqi operation formed part of the same large-scale effort that ultimately led to the €9 million cocaine bust in Gozo.