Drug trafficker jailed 11 years and fined €18,000

A man who was charged with a range of drug offences last year was handed an 11-year-effective prison term and was ordered to pay an €18,000 fine.

Silvestre Antonio Garcia Alvarez, a Dominican national, was arraigned on 5 July of the previous year, charged with importing and conspiring to traffic cocaine and other psychotropic substances, as well as possession not for his exclusive use and money laundering offences.

A police raid connected to the investigation uncovered approximately 3kg of cocaine, 600g of amphetamines, 400g of ketamine, around 2,500 ecstasy pills and a substantial amount of cash.

He was arraigned alongside 58-year-old Maximo Luna Diaz from Spain. Their cases were heard separately.

Alvarez entered a guilty plea on 27 October as part of a plea agreement reached with the attorney general. When considering the appropriate punishment, the court noted his clean criminal record and the timing of his guilty plea, which avoided unnecessary proceedings.

The court held that the sentence jointly proposed by the attorney general and the accused in their application of 19 November 2025 fell within the legal parameters and was appropriate in the circumstances.

Accordingly, the court found Alvarez guilty of all charges.

Alvarez was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment and fined €18,000. The court further ordered him to pay €4,046.06 in court expenses within two years, with the amount to be converted into an additional term of imprisonment in case of default.

The court also ordered the destruction of the drugs.

The case was presided over by Judge Neville Camilleri.

Lawyers Jose Herrera and Naomi Spiteri appeared for the accused.