Vend My Habit: The Rise of Synthetic Cannabis Distribution In Marsa And Ħamrun
It’s no news that the majority of narcotics distributors in Malta get by their business untroubled.
Although new campaigns are carried out jointly by police and substance abuse agencies every year, and despite enriched surveillance and enforcement, the problem persists.
The narco-war is tough to overcome due to the increase in demand year after year. Experimenting with narcotics seems to be a period explored by many, seen as a stress reliever or a way to let go of our daily burdens and experience life with a new perspective.
Another persevering factor unfortunately is that narcotic distribution is so well-embedded in our country that it has corrupted the administrative and enforcement bodies of our nation.
Many people know who makes use of substances, who deals small-time and who imports and lives off the fruits profited from this potentially harmful vice, but still, these well-known gaffers remain among “The Untouchables”.
To make matters worse, local narcotic producers and dealers are resorting to more experimental methods when cooking or cutting such substances with the end result becoming more synthesised. This is posing great harm and is bluntly being done without regard for the health and safety of users, as long as it provides the same high or even better.
There’s always that prominent hotspot prone for these shady deals to be conducted, but nowadays distribution is done in plain sight and free from regard to who might be watching. As long as the wheel turns and the pockets are hefty nothing is disturbed.
Over the past few years, Marsa and Ħamrun have seen an increase in narco-trafficking, apart from being criminally active all year round.
This may be an attributing factor due to the presence of diverse cultures; unfortunately, some of them have a menial income thus they have to resort to these vices to sustain their lives or if present, their habits.
Enforcement sources told Lovin Malta that within the area of Triq Diċembru Tlettax, 6th August Gardens and close to the Primary Schools in Marsa, up till the part where the town borders with Ħamrun, heavy synthetic cannabis is being sold freely and round the clock at any time of the day.
Some individuals who are seen often in the company of dealers or actually dealing themselves go up on roofs leading to the streets that intersect the area referred to and make use of Bluetooth headsets to inform and give warning signals that police are approaching, thus disrupting enforcement efforts.
This is by means a form of organised crime and it’s a shame that it has been let to get systematically organised in this manner. Nevertheless it’s never too late to act and surely some measure of decent enforcement will hopefully minimise or rule out this criminal ring for good.
I commiserate with the residents in both Marsa and Ħamrun for feeling unsafe, as this ever-growing criminal cluster will make way for further criminality to arise, thus bringing regress to the sense of community and the locality itself.
What do you think needs to be done?