Fifth man arraigned over 8.5kg cannabis haul

A 23-year-old man from Zabbar was today remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to conspiring to traffic 8.5 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The accused, who cannot be named by court order, also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to deal in drugs, cannabis trafficking and possession.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke denied bail and remanded the man in custody.

The accused is the fifth person to be charged over the drug haul. On Tuesday, four people – including a 16-year-old MCAST student – were charged with aggravated possession and conspiracy to traffick 8.5 kilograms of cannabis.

The youth – who cannot be named as he is a minor – was granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €3,000. His partners in crime however, Antonio D’Amico, 55, Anna Geltrude, 45, both of Catania, and 32-year-old Slovenian Kristijan Zekic, were denied bail and remanded in custody due to the serious nature of the charges.

The arrests were made after Drug Squad personnel swooped in on a garage in Zabbar and found the cannabis.

Police Inspector Malcolm Bondin prosecuted, while Lawyer Gianella de Marco represented the accused.