Four charged with drug trafficking

Two Maltese men together with two Spanish nationals were remanded in custody after pleading guilty to charges of drug trafficking.

Spanish nationals Unai Lacalle Zumeta, 40 and Jose Ramon Garate Lasarte, 52 pleaded not guilty to conspiring and associating themselves with others to traffic drugs.

On 11 January, after having disembarked from a ferry boat the two were apprehended by police officers. Inside a false bottom of their suitcase, investigators found over 1.5kg of Cannabis. The two were staying in a hotel at St Paul's Bay. Unai Zumeta was previously known to the police in connection with drug dealings.

During their investigations, officers raided residences in Qawra, Bugibba and St Paul's Bay, where a further 2kg of Cannabis  500 grams of cocaine, 300 grams of heroin, a small amount of cannabis resin, two firearms and cash were seized. During the raids two Maltese men were also arrested.

Jason Grima, 31 of St Paul's Bay and another man whose identity was banned by court order, pleaded not guilty to association to traffic drugs. They also faced charges of being in possession of heroin, cannabis and cocaine which was not for personal consumption. Illegal weapons were also found at the residence of the second man.

Taking the witness stand prosecuting inspector Malcom Bondin requested a ban on the identity of one of the Maltese man. The prosecution also demanded the freezing of all assets belonging to the four accused. Magistrate Aaron Bugeja upheld both requests. The four were remanded in custody.

Lawyer Gabrielle Buttigieg, appearing for the accused whose identity was withheld by the court, pleaded for the accused to be placed under house arrest. "He is a father of an 18-month baby girl, his partner is a foreigner and he is the family's breadwinner and needs to take care of his family. The accused should be placed under house arrest rather than being remanded in custody, for humanitarian reasons", the lawyer said.

Moreover he had collaborated with the investigators, released a statement under oath and has no reason to abscond, she said. 

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech appearing for Zumeta, Lasarte and Grima, requested bail for the accused. However the prosecution objected to the three requests for bail and the plea for house arrest.

Inspector Bondin argued that given the severity of the case and the amount of drugs found, it would be inappropriate for any of the accused not to be placed under preventive custody.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja remanded in custody both the two Spaniards and the two Maltese men. The assets of all four men were seized by court order.