'The easiest people to buy drugs from': drug trafficking operation explained

A couple currently on remand after breaking into a garage and stealing drugs from suspected traffickers have testified about the alleged dealers and the sophisticated operation they ran.  

The couple gave detailed anecdotes of the tight-knit drug trafficking operation, which was described as the “easiest people to buy drugs from” and how “runners” were paid €14 for every €100 worth of drugs sold.

Ans Ghodban, known as Gaddafi, and Valentina Schembri had previously released sworn statements in which they explained from whom they had stolen the drugs on the day of their arrest back in February.

The pair had been arrested along with Gilbert Busuttil and Elena Susnea. In those sworn statements, they had also explained the criminal organisation and its structures linked to siblings Lorita and Christopher Pace, Jean Paul Azzopardi and Lee Falzon.

On Tuesday, criminal proceedings resumed against Christopher Pace, 40, Lorita Pace, 41, Jean Paul Azzopardi known as is-Sufu, 32, and Lee Falzon, 23.

Arrested back in November, all four were accused of trafficking and aggravated possession of cocaine and heroin, conspiracy, and being part of a criminal organisation. They are also charged individually for other drug-related offences. They deny the charges.

Ghodban and Schembri, who have severe drug issues, explained they would either buy or be given drugs by the Pace siblings or Azzopardi. The pair, along with Busuttil and Susnea, are facing different criminal proceedings in which they are denying the charges.

Ghodban and Schembri separately took the stand after the court ordered that they should still testify despite concerns raised by defence lawyers Matthew Xuereb and Francesca Zarb, who pointed out that both Ghodban and Schembri are accused of being involved in organised crime, as well as their clients – Azzopardi, Pace siblings and Falzon – and the facts of the two separate cases could be related.

The prosecution declared that the organised crime charge relates to the facts of the specific case and is not related to the case that the Pace siblings, Azzopardi and Falzon are facing.

Rented vehicles, 24/7 delivery

Ghodban explained that he has an acute cocaine addiction for the past ten years. He initially knew Lorita Pace and later became close friends with her brother Chris, with whom he later became close friends, and the two would go out together.

Detailing the criminal organisation, Ghodban explained Chris Pace has “16 runners” or individuals who deal drugs around the island, who work on a roster and use rented vehicles. 

Drug users would call a number and two phones would ring, one which would be on Chris Pace and the other on the dealer. The dealer would have cocaine and heroin and operated on a 24/7 schedule and was divided into different districts.

According to Ghodban, Azzopardi was introduced after Chris Pace became too “hot” or notorious with the police, and Pace allegedly spread a rumour that he had sold his business to Azzopardi.

He described Pace as the “big boss” and Azzopardi as the one who took care of the “runners”.

 €21,000 every 24 hours

He explained how the Pace siblings would agree together on different operations, cook, and package the drugs. They would also dish out orders, which were communicated to Azzopardi, who would then inform Falzon, who took care of the San Ġwann garage, where the drugs were stored. Falzon also lived there.

The drugs were packaged by weight, with at 0.2g of cocaine sold for €20 to 30, €50 or 1g sold for €70 to 80.

The runners would go to San Ġwann, collect the drugs, and deal them. He said runners would earn €14 on every €100 made and were allegedly paid by Azzopardi.

The business had a turnover of €21,000 every 24 hours, according to Ghodban, who insisted that he knew this because he had a good relationship with Pace, and that he would meet him almost daily. 

He said Azzopardi would give the drugs to Falzon, and added there was also “another person who laundered his (Pace’s) money”.

The witness explained how he would buy drugs from Chris Pace after his family in Libya sent him money.

“I used to spend a lot, and he kept me close. We used to drink together. I wasn’t part of their organisation but Chris told me everything,” he said in court. 

Ghodban did not know from whom Pace got their drugs but knew they got “big” amounts 10-15 kilogrammes. He said he would inform Chris about any rumours of anyone trying to report him to the police. He said he often frequented crack houses and listened to what others were saying about Pace. 

Arrest in February

Earlier this year, Ghodban and Pace argued because the latter did not want to give him any drugs unless he paid up. The witness explained that he threatened he would turn up at the San Ġwann garage and steal the drugs.

He went to the garage and left off with the drugs, but was arrested on the spot shortly afterwards. 

Ghodban recalled an argument some days before the theft. That time, Pace had sent him 10g of cocaine with Azzopardi, which the latter delivered to Ħamrun using a blue Toyota Vitz.

Ghodban spent some time in preventive custody before being released in the summer 2025. Initially, he was “clean” but then he relapsed, with the witness explaining that Pace initially came with the drugs and then runners were sent to him, and he resumed consuming cocaine on a daily basis.

Home delivery

“They are the easiest people to buy drugs from, if you call them up at 4am they deliver at your door,” Ghodban said, adding that he would sometimes pay in stolen goods.

Under cross-examination, Ghodban explained that he first thought about giving a sworn statement in December 2024 – January 2025. It was only when he was back on remand in February that he decided to issue the sworn statement. Pressed why he did not do it before he was arrested in February, the witness explained that once he was released he started taking drugs and forgot the statement and even his family.

Ghodban explained that Azzopardi would call him while in prison and confirmed that Azzopardi sought permission to speak to him and would put money on his account, which he never refused. He also said that Azzopardi had engaged his lawyer.

Azzopardi and Ghodban remained in contact even after releasing the sworn statement.

The witness denied suggestions of having threatened Azzopardi with “sending the Libyans”.

Hiding in the wardrobe

Schembri then took the stand, explaining that she was arrested along with Ghodban at a San Ġwann garage. The woman explained that Falzon had been hiding in the wardrobe at the time of their arrest.

“When we came out of the garage we found the police had encircled us. There was Jean Paul who shouted 'arrest them because they’ve annoyed the hell out' [arrestawhom għax qazzew l-Alla]."  During the arrest of the witness, her husband and the two others, the police found drugs on Ghodban and Busuttil.

She said she did not know Azzopardi but saw Ghodban meet him three times and was present for several calls between the two. She said Ghodban later would buy cocaine for them from Azzopardi.

Instead, she said she knew Lorita "for years".

"There was a time when I was homeless and living in Marsa, and Lorita had horses at a stable there. She helped me, giving me money to buy food,” the woman explained, adding that this was before she met Ghodban.

Schembri referred to one of the criminal proceedings she’s facing where she stole sunglasses, and explained she used the stolen goods in exchange for 5-10g of cocaine.

Drugs stolen from one of the runners

Schembri also testified about an incident when Ghodban stole drugs from one of Azzopardi’s runners. Azzopardi called Ghodban to speak about the issue, and the latter returned the drugs to the accused. On that occasion, Azzopardi allegedly gave Ghodban 10g of cocaine, which they did not pay for. Schembri had seen everything from their balcony.

Under cross-examination, the defence asked Schembri whether she had spoken to Ghodban over the past months.

While previously the pair enjoyed visits and phone calls, they could no longer communicate. The woman explained that sometimes Ghodban would shout “I love you” from the windows of his division and she would reply “I love you too”, but denied actually talking to each other.

The prosecution and defence submitted their arguments on the issue of bail.

AG lawyer Miguel Taliana objected, highlighting that the quartet were unemployed and would resort to similar crimes to sustain themselves. On Falzon, the prosecution argued that he had a drug habit and the man had done nothing to overcome it.

Xuereb then asked to summon the Pace’s brother, Clayton, who testified that he would employ Christopher at his pastizzi factory.

The defence lawyer argued that Lorita Pace had a toddler and had chosen a break from work and be a housewife to be with her young child.

Azzopardi’s sister, Marouska, took the stand telling the court she was willing to sustain her brother.

Lawyer Francesca Zarb argued that Falzon could be placed under a treatment order for his drug addiction. She said Azzopardi, who is on injury leave, had a support system if granted bail.  

She also highlighted that Azzopardi was never convicted of breaching his bail conditions.

The sitting was postponed. When it resumedm the court was informed the accused had been taken back to Corradino Correctional Facility. They were then brought back, only for the court lift to get stuck. 

After some 30 minutes, the court finally read out its decree granting the quartet bail against different conditions.

Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici presided.

Attorney General lawyers Julian Scicluna, Brendan Hewer, and Miguel Taliana prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Francesco Mizzi. Lawyer Francesca Zarb appeared for Azzopardi and Falzon. Lawyer Matthew Xuereb appeared for Lorita Pace and Christopher Pace.