AFM barracks drugs heist suspects released on bail
The four men stand accused of stealing 132kg of drugs from an army barracks
Four men accused of stealing cannabis resin from AFM-controlled barracks in Ħal Safi were released on bail on Thursday.
Sean Attard (30) from Żebbuġ, Yousef Essesi (33) from St Paul’s Bay, Marsa residents Carlos Pace (23) and his brother Cleaven (19) were the first to be arraigned in connection with the heist on February 26.
They all stand accused of carrying out the Saturday night cannabis robbery, criminal association for the purpose of drug trafficking and cannabis possession in circumstances denoting it was not for their personal use.
Carlos Pace also stands accused of having breached the terms of a suspended sentence handed to him in 2023 and bail conditions imposed on him in 2024 in separate criminal cases.
They deny the charges.
In February, thieves broke into the Safi barracks and stole 132kg of cannabis resin held by the armed forces at the request of the Court Services Agency. The drugs were part of a larger seizure of cannabis resin made at the Malta Freeport last June.
Officials initially determined that 226kg of cannabis were missing but forensic examiners later confirmed that 132kg was the amount stolen.
Two other individuals – Liam Stewart and Cleaven Pace’s girlfriend, Christa Gauci – arraigned separately in connection with the heist were granted bail in April and May respectively.
While considering the seriousness of the offences and analysing local and European jurisprudence on the matter, the court held that the serious nature of the offences alone was not sufficient reason to deny bail.
The court also took into consideration the amount of time the accused had been in preventive custody.
The men were released on bail against a €30,000 deposit each and a €40,000 personal guarantee.
They were ordered to sign the bail book daily, and a curfew was also imposed.
Magistrate Elaine Rizzo is presiding over the case.
AG lawyers Maria Francesca Spiteri and Kevin Valletta prosecuted, assisted by police inspectors Mark Anthony Mercieca, Alfredo Mangion and Jeffrey Scicluna Briffa.
Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri, Charles Mercieca and Adreana Zammit assisted the Pace brothers. Debono and lawyer Matthew Xuereb are assisting Sean Attard.
Lawyer Amadeus Cachia and Mario Mifsud are assisting Essesi.