In 2015, 2016 and 2018, Malta Customs took part in Operation Peacock Pills, targeting tramadol pills.

 

During Operation Peacock Pills there were approximately 1.2 billion pills seized globally by all the participating countries. Malta Customs seized approximately 225 million pills, which would account for 20% of the total pills seized in the operation.

 

The value of the seized pills is considered to reach circa €1.2 billion.

 

‘Tramadol' is a prescriptive drug. However, prescriptions of such drugs are generally in small doses. The amounts seized by Malta Customs are in large dozes and it is believed that these were destined to stimulate soldiers or freedom fighters to conduct attacks or fights under a hallucinating effect.