Qormi raid: police found drugs while searching for explosives, court told

A man who was arrested on drug charges following a major police operation in Qormi last month has been released on bail after a court heard how police searching for explosives had found drugs instead.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard police inspector Keith Arnaud testify to how Clayton McKay and two others were arrested after police investigating bomb-making allegations had visited his property.

No explosives were found, but the search of the property, which McKay would lease out to groups of migrants, led to the discovery of drugs. The police had found some 163 grams of heroin and 91 grams of cocaine in the suspect’s possession.

McKay, 25, was subsequently charged with aggravated drug possession and relapsing and was remanded in custody following his arraignment.

This morning the court granted him bail against a deposit of €6,000 and a personal guarantee of €10,000. He was ordered to observe a curfew and sign a bail book daily.

Sandro Caruana, who had been inside the property during the raid, declined to testify this morning to avoid self-incrimination after the prosecuting inspector said that charges were also due to be filed against him.

Lawyer Franco Debono was defence counsel.