Ecstasy, cocaine, magic mushrooms powder and child porn found in Birzebbugia garage

A man from Birzebbugia has been remanded in custody after police officers, tracking a suspicious mail package, discovered drugs in his car, before going on to discover a recreational drug emporium inside the garage where he resided and child pornography on his home computer.

Police said 39-year-old Keith Desmond Falzon was found to be in possession of all manner of illicit substances, in large amounts.

He was out on bail pending an appeal against a conviction for defiling a minor.

Falzon, from Birzebbugia, was arraigned before magistrate Joe Mifsud this morning. He explained that he was currently suspended from his government job and earned his living by working as an unlicensed taxi driver.

Inspectors Kevin Pulis and Jonathan Cassar from the Drugs Squad told the court how the police had been informed that the accused was involved in drug trafficking and so had started to monitor his movements. Police discovered that a large a large parcel was due to be delivered to him and so a controlled delivery was set up.

Falzon was observed picking up the parcel from the Birzebbugia post office yesterday morning, with two children in tow. He was arrested in Paola.

A garage that the police had been informed belonged to him and to which he had the key to was searched.

In the back of his car, police discovered 4kg of cannabis resin and 1.5kg of cannabis grass. The garage was found to be stocked with “every kind of drug” said the inspector. Boxes of amphetamines, LSD cocaine, magic mushrooms together with viagra and valium which he would also sell, as well as €82,000 in cash were found in the garage.

Vice squad Inspector Joseph Busuttil told the court that he had spoken to the two children, who had explained that the accused would sometimes take them and around four other children to the beach and other times have them sleep over at his house. “They said there had been sexual advances.”

Underage pornography, which is considered by victims as sexual abuse, was found on the man's computer hard drive and other devices were currently being examined, added the inspector.

Falzon was charged with 38 crimes in all, including drug trafficking, money laundering, participating in sexual activities with underage children aged between 7 and 11 years of age, corruption of minors, obtaining indecent images of underage persons, breaching bail conditions and committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence.

Defence lawyer Roberto Montalto entered a plead of not guilty. Bail was not requested.

The court imposed a freezing order over all of Falzon's funds and assets.