Drug mule tells police he received €1,000 for every trip

A man who allegedly transported drugs to Malta in several trips from Sicily told police officers he received €1,000 for each delivery.  

Details were given in court during criminal proceedings against Agatino Claudio Roberto, Daniela Portale, Keith Spiteri and Jide Mallia, who stand accused of importing 12.5kg of cocaine worth some €600,000. They deny the charges.

Police inspector Alfredo Mangion testified that the police had been monitoring several individuals on suspicion that they formed part of an organised crime group which trafficked and imported drugs from Sicily. The surveillance began months ago and focused on the Marsa seaport and Gudja.

The inspector gave details of the movements of the accused and how they were seen receiving or handing over bags in Gudja.  

The police intervened on March when an exchange of bags took place in Triq Bir Mitfuh. Spiteri, Roberto and Portale were arrested on the spot. The officers then noticed Mallia driving up in his car. As he was signalled to stop he reversed onto a police car and hit a third-party vehicle parked on the same road. He too was arrested.

Roberto told the police that there were drugs in his car but he did not know where they were hidden or what they were. He explained that he was a drug mule but had no idea what he had been carrying.

The police searched his Peugeot, which had just arrived from Sicily, and found  13 blocks of cocaine under a mudguard. 

In Mallia’s car the police found a set of ratchets and screwdrivers which were seized. They did not found anything irregular at Mallia’s residence.

At Spiteri’s Gudja residence, the police found a big sealable bag and a machine which seals bags. They also found a logo similar to that found on drugs.

Some of the drugs seized after the arrest.

During his interrogation, Roberto explained that he travelled to Malta some 11 times using different vehicles and accompanied by his partner, Portale. On these 11 trips, he always met Spiteri and they would drive to Gudja and he would hand over the keys of his car. 

Roberto told the officers that he would not know what drugs would be hidden in the vehicle or where they would be hidden. The vehicle he would be driving would remain parked on Triq Bir Miftuħ and Spiteri would drive the couple to Paceville where they would stay in a hotel until it was time for them to return to Sicily. They would take a cab to Gudja, retrieve the vehicle, of which keys would be hidden under the mat, together with a €1,000, and go back to Sicily. 

Roberto also explained that when he was in Catania someone would call him, he would pick up the car which would have the keys hidden under the mat.

Roberto gave a sworn statement before the inquiring magistrate in which he identified Spiteri.

During her statement to the police, Portale said she did not know why they travelled to Malta and was under the impression that Roberto was looking for a job here. 

When she was confronted by what Roberto said, the woman said she suspected something was off during the last three visits but still agreed to come with him. She denied receiving any money in connection with the trips.

Spiteri and Mallia exercised their right to silence.

From the investigation, it emerged that Mallia went to Sicily between January 28 and 30, without a vehicle. He then travelled again between February 13 and 16. Mallia then travelled to Sicily on February 27 using his vehicle but returned on March 1, without a vehicle.

As for Roberto and Portale, the police established that they made several trips using different vehicles. The pair arrived in Malta on December 3, 7, 10, 18, and 31 using different vehicles.

In January, there were two trips on the seventh and the 30th. In February, the pair travelled to Malta on 7, 14 and 21 February. They arrived on March 3 using the Peugeot.

The police inspector told the court that Mallia was never seen going to work when he was placed under surveillance.  

The case was adjourned for Monday.

Magistrate Elaine Rizzo presided. AG lawyer Maria Francesca Spiteri prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Alfredo Mangion. Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Jacob Magri assisted Agatino Claudio Roberto. Lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit appeared for Keith Spiteri. Lawyers Marion Camilleri and Matthew Xuereb assisted Jide Mallia. Lawyer Alex Scerri Herrera assisted Daniela Portale.