Four charged with drug trafficking and organised crime
Police say 'substantial amount' of drugs of various kinds were found at Manikata residence
Updated 2.10pm
Four people were remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to drug trafficking and organised crime following a drug bust in Manikata.
Alessia di Pasquale, a 30-year-old Italian national, and three Romanian nationals - Teodor Laurentiu Barbulescu, 39, Alexandru Marian Basa and Florin Serbanescu, both 37 - were on Thursday morning charged in court presided over by magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace.
Photo: Malta Police ForceInspector Mark Mercieca said that the police had received information about suspicious activity at a Manikata home some months ago.
The residence was placed under surveillance, and the officers noted suspicious activities taking place both during the day and at night, which suggested drug trafficking.
The first to be identified were Di Pasquale and Serbanescu, who were observed making contact with several people and accessing the said residence.
It was then established that other individuals resided at the address.
On April 10, the police requested an arrest warrant against Di Pasquale and Serbanescu, and a search warrant for the residence.
Di Pasquale was arrested on April 14 when she emerged outside, with Mercieca explaining that this was done to facilitate the entry into the residence, as the police were convinced that there were more individuals inside.
The police arrested a total of five people, where they found cannabis plants, cannabis resin, thousands of ecstasy pills, MDMA, LSD, cocaine, and mushrooms, among other drugs, as well as cash.
Photo: Malta Police ForceMercieca explained that the fifth individual arrested on the day was released, but the investigations are ongoing, adding that it is not excluded that others will be arraigned in connection with the case.
The four individuals were accused of trafficking cannabis, ecstasy, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, amphetamine, cocaine, and magic mushrooms, and being in aggravated possession of the drugs.
They were further accused of conspiring to traffic the drugs and being part of a criminal organisation.
Di Pasquale, who is heavily pregnant, said she works in iGaming and pleaded not guilty.
Barbulescu and Basa, who both told the court that they are unemployed, also pleaded not guilty.
Serbanescu, who said that he is self-employed, pleaded not guilty.
At this stage, no request for bail was made.
Defence lawyer Jason Azzopardi observed that his client, Di Pasquale, is due to give birth within weeks and is also diabetic. He asked the court to make a recommendation to the prison authorities to take care of the woman while on remand.
A court issued a freezing order on all the accused’s assets.
Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace presided.
AG lawyer Julian Scicluna prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Mark Mercieca.
Photo: Malta Police ForceLawyers Jason Azzopardi, Kris Busietta and Alessandro Farrugia assisted Di Pasquale and Serbanescu.
Legal aid lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar assisted Basa.
Legal aid lawyer Maria Karlsson assisted Barbulescu.