Married couple accused of drug trafficking denied bail after police observe balcony heroin delivery

A woman seen throwing a package of drugs from a balcony into a waiting car has been remanded in custody on drug trafficking charges, together with her husband, the driver of the vehicle.

Burgh Spiteri, 34, and Nakita Spiteri, 30, a husband and wife from Hamrun, were arraigned under arrest before magistrate Rachel Montebello on Wednesday, accused of trafficking cocaine and ecstasy and aggravated possession of heroin. The charges were aggravated by the drop off location’s proximity to a school. Burgh alone was also accused of recidivism.

Police inspectors Mark Anthony Mercieca and John Leigh Howard explained the circumstances which had led to the pair’s arrest. 

A tip off about possible drug trafficking had led to weeks of police surveillance on the couple’s address in Ħamrun, Inspector Howard said. 
Yesterday, officers had seen a car stopping under the balcony of the residence. A woman had then emerged on the balcony and thrown something to the man sitting in the car, below.

The vehicle was subsequently stopped by the police and the package was found to contain a substance thought to be heroin. Burgh Spiteri was the man behind the wheel, explained the inspector.

The woman observed on the balcony, Nakita Spiteri, was also arrested. Her grandmother and another individual were also found to be Inside the house at the time, he said, adding that the investigation with regards these individuals was still ongoing.

Inside the house, police found a number of sachets containing substances which they suspect to be cocaine, heroin and ecstasy pills.  Around €1000 in cash and several mobile phones were also recovered.

Answering questions from defence lawyer Franco Debono, Inspector Howard explained that the couple had been arrested at around 2:45pm yeasterday and that the duty magistrate had been informed of this development “around 15 minutes later.”

He also clarified, in reply to a question by the Court, that the person who had thrown the object was Nakita Spiteri.

Both defendants entered not guilty pleas and requested bail.

Debono informed the court that although the defendants both resided at the same address in Hamrun, if granted bail, Nakita Spiteri would reside at an alternative address in Marsa with her sister. Burgh Spiteri would stay at Hamrun.

The prosecution objected to bail, arguing that the crimes were serious and had been committed near a school, Burgh had a criminal record and there was a real risk of the defendants tampering with evidence, as civilian witnesses were still to testify.

Inspector Merceica explained further that those witnesses’ testimony was expected to implicate the defendants in drug trafficking.

Debono suggested that the amount of drugs found, which did not emerge during the sitting, could qualify the case to be heard by a drug court and allow bail supervision. “Nakita is a dog breeder and this justifies the amount of cash found in her possession, which wasn’t an astronomical sum,” argued the lawyer.

Replying to those submissions, Inspector Mercieca said that footage would be exhibited in due course, showing her to be the person distributing the substances. The remaining witnesses were vulnerable and had to be protected, he added.

The court denied bail to both defendants, explaining that although the amounts of drugs may turn out to be small, the two individuals who were present during the alleged exchange and who were still to testify could be influenced or suborned at this stage.