Updated | Two charged with cocaine trafficking, denied bail

UPdated at 3:15pm with details from court sitting

Two men wcaught red handed by the police while trafficking cocaine in Valletta were denied bail when charged in court on Sunday.

Wayne Buttigieg, 41, and Jesmond Gillard, 58, who both live in Mellieħa, were arrested on Friday after the police received a tip-off involving drug trafficking taking place in the capital. They were charged with drug trafficking aggravated by location since they were close to a place frequented by young people.

Body searches led police to find 500g of cocaine and thousands of euros in cash. The street value of the cocaine is estimated at €27,000, the police said in a statement earlier today.

The men pleaded not guilty and requested bail. Buttigieg, who is unemployed, asked for bail since he was a single father of a 14-year-old daughter and also took care of his mother. Gillard, an Enemalta employee, also requested bail.

Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo denied their requests after the prosecution said there was a risk of tampering with evidence. She also ordered their assets to be sequestered.