Sicilian collaborated with officers after drug raid

Drug Squad officers had been observing the movements of Davide Sapienza for a number of days prior to arresting the 34-year-old car dealer from outside a garage in Triq il-Gizimin, Swieqi, Sergeant Johann Micallef told the court today.

Sapienza, a Sicilian,  is facing charges of drug trafficking after the police seized three kilograms of cannabis resin and 30 grams of cocaine found in his possession.

Taking the witness stand, PS Micallef explained Sapienza lived in Triq il-Bramel, Swieqi but was regularly observed entering garages in Triq il-Gizimin. Officers noted the accused only spent some minutes inside the garages and would then be seen talking to people who stopped to talk to him in cars as they drove through the road.

In the afternoon of 16 December at around 4:45pm, officers apprehended Sapienza outside the garages. He was carrying a plastic bag containing bags with cannabis resin inside. Two keys and two mobile phone were also found in his possession. The accused took the officers inside the garage area where they saw a locked gate. Opening the gate using one of Sapienza's keys the police found a flight of steps leading to a black aluminium door. The other key opened this door giving officers access to a small yard and two rooms. At the time the small apartment was empty.

While officers searched the room, the Sicilian told them about a Romanian youth who lived in the apartment, stating he was not the only person having access to the apartment. Choosing to collaborate with the police, Sapienza called the youth demanding they meet at the Swieqi apartment. Moment later a 16-year-old entered the apartment escorted by police. However an officer noticed the youth dropping a small sachet from his trousers pocket. This was retrieved and resulted to contain cannabis.

Searching the kitchen area the police found 3 kilos of cannabis resin packed in bags, a small bag containing white powder believed to be cocaine, and a box containing a set of scales. One of the bags was found inside the microwave. Sapienza reiterated the drugs belonged to the Romanian.

While the youth was taken to the police headquarters for further investigation, Sapienza took officers to his residence in Triq il-Bramel. From under the mattress in his bedroom, he produced two envelopes containing cash money in euro notes. These were seized by the police.  A Ferrari vehicle used by the Sicilian was also seized from the Hilton car park and taken to the Police HQ.

During questioning the Sicilian told investigators he had been passing sachets, each containing 50 grams of cannabis, to the people he met in cars outside the garage in Triq il-Gizimin. Further more he offered to give investigators confidential information about these people but objected to have it included in his police statement. The investigating officer informed him that the statement was under-way and he was under caution hence he could refuse to answer incriminating questions. The accused opted not to give the police any other information.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman, postponed the sitting for another date when more witnesses for the prosecution will take the stand.

Inspector Gabriel Micallef is prosecuting while lawyers Giannella De Marco and Gianluca Caruana Curran appear for the accused.