Three arrested in Gozo raid over illegal cultivation of cannabis plants

Three foreign nationals have been arrested following an investigation into the alleged illegal cultivation of cannabis plants in quantities exceeding the legal limit.

The arrests were made on Thursday morning after police carried out a search at an apartment in Triq il-Wied, Marsalforn, in the limits of Żebbuġ, Gozo.

During the search, officers discovered 11 cannabis plants that were allegedly being grown illegally. The plants were found both inside the apartment and on the roof of the apartment block.

Photo: Malta Police

Police also seized several packets of cannabis that were ready for distribution in circumstances indicating they were intended for trafficking.

The three men arrested are a 43-year-old German national, a 37-year-old Ghanaian national and a 36-year-old Sudanese national.

Earlier on Friday, the German national was arraigned before Magistrate Jean Paul Grech in the Gozo Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

He was granted bail subject to a number of conditions.

Investigations involving the other two suspects are ongoing.