BMW, Mercedes seized as unemployed man is held on drug charges
Police also seize drugs in sachets and packets
An unemployed man who was allegedly trafficking drugs was arrested when he was found on the streets in breach of bail conditions, a court heard on Monday.
Josef Grech, 35 of Cospicua, was arraigned on Monday and accused of aggravated possession of cocaine and cannabis , money laundering and breaching bail conditions imposed on December 4, 2024. He denied the charges.
Police inspector Mark Anthony Mercieca explained how Grech was arrested at a roadblock on suspicion of breaching bail and being in possession of drugs.
The police searched Grech’s BMW and found a substantial amount of cocaine sachets and a bag of cannabis. There were small sachets and big packets. The police impounded the vehicle.
When asked, the suspect told the police that he had never worked.
The inspector said officers then searched several properties in Tarxien and Cospicua where they found cash and drug paraphernalia related to the packaging of drugs. They also impounded a Mercedes found in a Marsascala garage.
Defence lawyer Franco Debono suggested that Grech had been on his way to a health centre because he had an infection.
Mercieca said that the accused never told him as such, but he was taken to a health centre where he was certified as fit.
The court upheld the prosecution’s request for a freezing order.
Bail was requested but the prosecution objected, arguing that investigations were still at a very early stage and ongoing. Other individuals could be arrested in connection with the case.
Mercieca underlined that the man was found in possession of drugs and outside curfew hours.
Debono said the accused could be placed under supervision while out on bail. When the man’s partner was about to testify, Mercieca said it would be better to caution her since the property where she lives was one of the properties searched. The defence renounced to the witness.
The accused's mother also took the stand. The magistrate asked her if the accused would obey her and adhere to conditions if he was granted bail, to which she replied: “But he has a drug issue, poor boy. It’s better you send him off to rehab.”
The court turned down the request for bail and solicited the prosecution to summon the civilian witnesses at their earliest.
Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi presided. AG lawyer Nadia Ciappara prosecuted with police inspectors Mark Anthony Mercieca and Chantelle Mifsud. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri assisted the accused.