Bail revoked for quarry worker charged with importation and possession of 15kg cocaine

A court has revoked the bail granted to a 23-year-old Gozitan man charged with smuggling 15kg of cocaine in a car that arrived in Malta on the ferry from Sicily last week.



Quarry worker Joseph Rodney Grima of Ghajnsielem, Gozo, had been arraigned under arrest in Court on Wednesday, charged with importation and possession of 15 kilograms of cocaine after the substantial drug stash was discovered inside a Mercedes that was being transported to Malta by ferry.

According to the prosecution, Grima requested towing service after the car had encountered mechanical problems. It is believed that the fault had been caused by the drugs concealed in the fuel tank.


In a statement released to the media the day before Wednesday's arraignment, the police had said that a 66-year-old man from Qormi was also being investigated in connection with the discovery.



On Friday, magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona granted the man bail against a deposit of €20,000, a personal guarantee of €50,000 and limiting his movement.



But the Attorney General had immediately filed an appeal, arguing amongst other things, that Grima could tamper with evidence.

This morning Madam justice Edwina Grima upheld the AG's arguments and ordered the man's re-arrest. 


Lawyers Mario Mifsud, Joe Giglio, William Cuschieri and Alfred Abela are defence counsel to the accused.