News • 3 November 2002

Drug network operating Holland-Malta route dismantled

By Kurt Sansone

VALLETTA - It could have been a run of the mill drug bust but the arrest of two Maltese nationals in the outskirts of Catania in May this year was more than that. It was the loose end of a criminal cobweb that ran the drug route Holland-Italy-Malta.

When arrested by the Italian police after being caught red-handed collecting a packet containing four kilos of cocaine and one kilo of marijuana, both Raymond Borg and Fabio Psaila were considered to be drug couriers. However, intensive interrogations and a thorough investigation by law enforcement agencies led the police to dismantle an intricate drug ring, which ironically had as its masterminds at least five prison inmates who directed operations from Corradino.

Police investigations came to fruition on Friday when no less than 19 people were arraigned in court on various drug related charges. Only one of the accused, Trudy Testa was granted bail by the court on humanitarian grounds.

The five prison inmates arraigned are: Mario Camilleri, L-Imniehru, aged 40 from Valletta and his son Pierre aged 20 from Pieta’, Emanuel Camilleri, Il-Bully, aged 37 from Imqabba, Charles Muscat, Il-Pips, aged 35 from Mosta and Alfred Bugeja, Il-Porporina, aged 44 from Valletta.

The other accused are: John Camilleri, aged 34 from Imqabba, Romeo Bone, aged 26 from Floriana, Yvette Muscat, aged 37 from Iklin, Mona Camilleri, aged 30 from Valletta, Trudy Testa, aged 37 from Mqabba, Isaac Chetcuti, aged 25 from Sliema, Noel Borg, aged 29 from Bahar ic-Caghaq, Daniel Bonnici, aged 26 from Burmarrad, Anthony Gatt, aged 49 from Imqabba, Carmen Armeni, aged 41 from Imqabba, Sylvana Bugeja, aged 29 from Gharghur, Sue Abela, aged 36 from Sliema, and Albert Bugeja, aged 30 from Gzira.

Sue Abela is a bowling champion, former sportswoman of the year and a member of Malta’s Order of Merit. She alone was charged with conspiring to traffic in cocaine and cannabis on 30 May and in the previous seven years unlike the charge brought against the others, which spoke of the previous six months.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, definitely a satisfied man, yesterday applauded all those involved in the major drug bust.

The Minister said that this past year has seen many successful episodes in the fight against criminality. He attributed this success to the hard work and determination of the law enforcement agencies and the amendments made to the Criminal Code earlier in the year. These amendments made it possible for the Police to intervene in cases involving conspiracy. Previously law enforcers could only prosecute on crimes, which were actually committed.