Trial by jury for man caught in 2005 record cocaine bust

Arnold Farrugia, 44, will face a trial by jury on Tuesday 1 April, over the alleged importation of 6.2 kilos of cocaine in 2005.

Nine years ago the case had made the headlines as the biggest drug bust by the police.

The case dates back to 25 July 2005, when after weeks of observation, officers from the Drug Squad moved in on a container which had arrived from the port of Genoa on board the vessel Maltese Falcon.

At around 10:00am the police called at Laboratory Wharf and informed Customs officers that the container was under investigation.

Moments later a truck belonging to Emmanuel Vella and Sons arrived on site to tow the container to the groupage compound in Hal Far.

Escorting the container to Hal Far, the police learnt it belonged to Arnold Farrugia. The merchandise inside the container was unloaded at Hal Far and the trailer searched, with negative results. Convinced of their suspicions, police and customs officers attempted to search the cooling unit of the trailer however could not unbolt it and decided to send the container for x-ray scanning at the Freeport.

The scan showed unjustified shadows inside the unit and the refrigerated container was again returned to Hal Far were physical examination, in the presence of the accused, revealed six tile-shaped black plastic packets and one smaller one. In total the packets contained 6.2kg of 85.8% pure cocaine, with a street value of between €434,700 and €639,630.

On 27 July, Arnold Farrugia was arraigned and charged with importing and being in possession of cocaine, and conspiring to traffic the drug.

On the day of the sitting, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ruled that arraignment under arrest was not justified and Farrugia was released without requesting bail. Lawyers Manuel Mallia, Gianella de Marco and Veronica Galea Debono represented him.

However, the Attorney General filed an application requesting the court’s ruling be overturned and two days later, Mr Justice David Scicluna ordered that Farrugia is re-arrested. Magistrate Anthony Vella appointed the compilation of evidence to be heard.

The prosecution claimed that Farrugia took the refrigerated container to the Netherlands where drugs were hidden in the cooling unit. The container was brought to Malta onboard the Maltese Falcon. At the same time, Farrugia took a flight to Malta through the United Kingdom.