Man extradited from Sicily charged with trafficking drugs and arms

Jomic Calleja charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiring to traffic cannabis grass, importing the illegal plant and selling it.

A court has remanded a 29-year-old Gzira man in custody, after he was arraigned before it, accused of trafficking drugs and firearms offences.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella heard police inspectors Herman Mula and James Grech accuse Jomic Calleja with trafficking in cocaine, conspiring to traffic cannabis grass, importing the illegal plant and selling it.

He was also charged with being in possession of a firearm without the necessary license, firing it in an inhabited area and breaching previous bail conditions.

Calleja was also accused of committing a crime during the operative period of a probation order and relapsing.

Inspector Mula told the court how an investigation into a drug importation organisation was started in September, leading to an 18kg haul of cannabis grass. During the course of their investigations, the accuse emerged as a suspect, however he absconded to Sicily before he could be questioned.

He said Calleja was also wanted in connection with a shooting incident in Qormi. In addition to the drugs offences, Calleja was also charged with shooting an AK-47 rifle in a Qormi garage complex on two occasions in the summer of 2013. Inspector James Grech had said that CCTV footage showed a Peugeot 307 entering and exiting the garages at times corresponding with the firing. Calleja owns a car of that make and model.

The police searched his residence in August 2013 and recovered four 7.62mm x 39mm rounds, which correspond with the AK-47 weapon system. A pill-making machine was also retrieved.

Calleja is the subject of three European Arrest Warrants in connection with three separate criminal cases. The extradition order from Sicily was finally granted yesterday

Today, in court, the accused spoke only to confirm his details and plead not guilty.

Magistrate Vella remanded the accused on custody and ordered the accused's assets be frozen pending the outcome of proceedings.
Calleja’s defence counsel, lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace requested he be treated for bipolar disorder whilst in prison, a fact which the prosecution said they had not been informed of. Micallef Stafrace told the court that he had only been informed of this fact today.

The Court requested the director of prisons to follow the recommendations made by the examining psychiatrist. The accused will be held at Mount Carmel Hospital rather than Corradino prison if he is found to be suffering from a mental health condition.