Serbian Convicts Deported: Malta’s Tough Stance on Foreign Crime

In the quiet hours of a recent morning, a chartered flight took off from Malta International Airport, carrying with it a group of Serbian men who had called the island home, albeit temporarily. These men were not tourists, but convicted criminals, deported after serving their jail terms for drugs and robberies. This marked the beginning of a new wave of deportations, a stark reminder of Malta’s ongoing struggle with foreign criminality.

The deportation process is a complex one, involving cooperation between Malta’s Correctional Services, the Police, and the Immigration Department. Once a foreign national has served their sentence, they are transferred from the Corradino Correctional Facility to the Ħal Far Open Centre, a detention facility near the airport. Here, they await their deportation, a process that can take weeks or even months.

For the Serbian men, this wait was likely filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Many had been in Malta for years, some with families and jobs. Now, they faced the prospect of returning to a country they may barely recognize, with few prospects and no support network.

Malta has long struggled with foreign criminality, with many of those convicted coming from EU countries like Romania and Bulgaria. However, recent years have seen an increase in crime involving Serbian nationals. According to data from the Malta Police, the number of Serbian nationals arrested for crimes in Malta has more than doubled in the past five years.

This increase has raised concerns among local authorities. “Serbia is a new source of foreign criminality that we’re having to deal with,” says a high-ranking police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We’re seeing a lot of these guys involved in drugs and robberies, often working in organized gangs.”

The officer points to the lack of a proper visa regime with Serbia as a contributing factor. “Until recently, Serbians could come to Malta without a visa, making it easy for criminals to enter the country. Now, they need a visa, but enforcement is still an issue.”

Deportation is a complex issue, with legal and human rights considerations. Malta’s laws allow for the deportation of foreign nationals who have been convicted of a crime and served their sentence. However, the process is not straightforward. It involves negotiations with the convicted person’s home country, ensuring they have no outstanding legal issues there, and arranging travel documents.

deportation can have significant human costs. Many of those deported have families in Malta, often Maltese nationals. The deportation of a parent can leave children in limbo, with no clear path to reunification. It can also disrupt families financially, with the loss of a breadwinner.

Yet, for many Maltese, the benefits of deportation outweigh the costs. “These guys come here, commit crimes, and then expect to stay,” says Joe, a taxi driver who has seen his share of foreign criminality. “They’re a burden on our system, and we’re better off without them.”

Malta’s response to foreign criminality is a work in progress. The government has pledged to tighten visa controls, making it harder for criminals to enter the country. It has also promised to improve integration programs, helping foreign nationals to assimilate and reduce their likelihood of turning to crime.

However, some critics argue that more needs to be done. “We need to be tough on crime, but we also need to be smart,” says Dr. Maria, a sociologist who has studied foreign criminality in Malta. “That means investing in prevention and rehabilitation, not just punishment and deportation.”

As for the Serbian men on that flight, their future is uncertain. Some may find work and a new life in Serbia. Others may struggle, their past crimes a barrier to employment and integration. But one thing is clear: their deportation is a sign that Malta is serious about tackling foreign criminality, whatever the cost.