Two remanded in custody over alleged cannabis operation which used delivery couriers

Two iGaming employees residing in Qawra have been remanded in custody after being charged with cultivating cannabis and possessing the drug for trafficking purposes.

Benjamin Filipovic, a 31-year-old Swedish national, and 27-year-old Dutchman Mahmoud Sakr pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

The drug bust happened during a joint investigation launched earlier this month by district police from Naxxar and Birkirkara together with the Drug Squad.

Police had received intelligence suggesting that cannabis was being grown for commercial purposes at a residence in Naxxar.

Acting on the information, officers carried out a search of the property and stumbled upon around 60 cannabis plants — more than ten times the number permitted under Maltese law for personal cultivation.

Police also seized some 800g of dried cannabis buds packaged into small sachets.

The legal limit of cannabis for personal possession stands at 50 grams.

Neither of the suspects was present when officers swooped on the residence.

Police subsequently obtained arrest warrants and launched a search for the pair.

Both men were rounded up on Monday.

Filipovic was arrested in Naxxar, while Sakr was tracked down at his workplace in Gżira.

A subsequent search of the men's shared residence in Qawra turned up digital scales, drug paraphernalia and a further 60 grams of cannabis buds.

Following their arrest, both men gave statements to the police.

Sakr admitted to trimming the cannabis buds and engaging in occasional drug trafficking.

He told investigators that he used Bolt courier services to deliver the packaged drugs to customers.

He also mentioned a third individual.

Filipovic, on the other hand, exercised his right to remain silent.

The court also upheld a request for a freezing order over the accused’s assets.

Bail request turned down

Sakr’s lawyer argued that the 27-year-old had a clean criminal record, a fixed address and a solid reputation. He said that Sakr worked as a team leader for an established iGaming company.

The defence consequently asked the court to release him on bail.

However, the prosecution objected, arguing that the proceedings were still in their infancy.

They pointed out that Sakr's statement had implicated a third person who remains the subject of an ongoing police investigation.

They argued that releasing the accused at this stage could jeopardise the inquiry and create a serious risk of evidence being tampered with.

Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia ultimately turned down the request for bail and remanded both men in custody.

Inspector Jonathan Pace and Attorney General Nadia Ciappara prosecuted.

Lawyers Martin Farrugia and Gianluca Cappitta appeared for the accused.