Man granted bail after being caught with 120g of heroin in police sting

An Għaxaq man who was caught with 120 grams of heroin and almost €19,000 in cash stashed away at two properties has been released on bail.

Police closed in on the 49-year-old on Tuesday during an investigation into suspected drug trafficking aimed at local users. 

Officers had been keeping tabs on the unemployed man after intelligence reports tipped them off to his alleged dealings.

Police investigations showed that the suspect was frequently associated with figures already well known to police for drug-related offences. 

He would also be seen entering an alley in Triq Ħal Farrugġ, Luqa, where he would disappear for only a few minutes before heading off again. The man was arrested in the same alley. 

During investigations yesterday morning, police stopped him there while he was using a Range Rover. A search of the man turned up 20 grams of heroin concealed in a bag in his pocket, and a search of a nearby wall uncovered  a further 100 grams of the same drug.

Officers then searched the man's home in Ħal Għaxaq and the home of a 29-year-old woman in Ħal Tarxien. From these, they recovered several items linked to drug trafficking, a number of mobile phones and close to €19,000 in cash.

Appearing before Magistrate Lara Lanfranco, the accused pleaded not guilty to charges linked to drug trafficking.

The defence requested bail, arguing that Ellul had a clean criminal record, had fully cooperated with investigators and that the quantity of drugs involved was relatively small.

The court granted bail, saying that the man must observe a curfew between 8pm and 6am, sign the bail book twice daily and put up a €5,000 deposit backed by a €15,000 personal guarantee.

Inspector Francesco Mizzi prosecuted, together with lawyer Julian Scicluna on behalf of the Attorney General's Office.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Fleur Abela appeared for the defence.