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Karl Stagno-Navarra
A South American drug ring smashed two weeks ago by police and customs, operated from St Julians and was considered to be an open link to the Mexican and Colombian drug lords.
Investigations carried out by the police drug squad revealed that the four men arrested on their arrival to Malta with 3.5 kilogrammes of pure grade cocaine, worked in nightspots in the St Julians and Paceville area.
Enrique Martinez Burgoa, 38 from Mexico, Josè Edgar Pena, 37 from Colombia, Domingo Ricardo Duran Navas, 29 from Panama, and Yanez Pinon Miguel Angel, 42 from Mexico were arrested and arraigned in connection with the two consignments of cocaine that were hidden in false bottoms of luggage brought to Malta on flights from Mexico.
While investigations revealed that two of the men were living in Malta for the past few months, other investigations are concentrated on their local acquaintances throughout their stay.
Interpol are also reported to be involved in the investigation as to the identification of the Mexican and Colombian suppliers to the cocaine.
Further links to the group are reported to be concentrating on the arrest of a 60 year-old Colombian man in Rome’s Fiumicino airport last May.
He was arrested after falling suddenly ill when transiting from Medellin to Malta. Hidden in his stomach were 80 capsules with 700 grammes of pure grade cocaine.
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