A man who stands charged with conspiring to import and traffic cannabis told the police that he only accepted to hide the drug on his farm because he needed the money to pay for his wife's medical bills.

The drug then went missing and the traffickers demanded to be paid for it.

The evidence was given in court at the opening of the trial of Paul Cachia, 59 and his son Paul 35 of  Mellieħa and Attard respectively.

Police Inspector Malcolm Bondin said that during interrogation, Paul Cachia said that he had been approached by José Scerri, 45, from Naxxar and asked to hide  drugs at their farm in l-Aħrax, Mellieha. 

Mr Cachia told the police that he initially turned down the request, but later accepted because he needed money to pay for his wife’s medical bills.

Some time during the investigation, after the first interrogation, Mr Cachia phoned the police to say that Scerri had driven to his farm and warned him that he would  “drench the ground with the family’s blood” if he told the police about his involvement.

Mr Cachia was so scared, he could hardly speak

Mr Cachia also told police that the drugs went missing from the farm and Scerri had demanded that he pay for it, since he was meant to look after the stash.

Mr Scerri is undergoing separate proceedings together with Michael Aquilina, 39, from Mosta. He stands accused of conspiracy to import, traffic and possession of cannabis and with transporting and conspiring to transport illegal migrants.