Phone tap leads police to suspected drug dealer

A police inspector yesterday told a magistrate how the recordings of telephone conversations had led to the arraignment of a fourth man in connection with the importation of seven kilogrammes of heroin into Malta.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara testified before Magistrate Anthony Vella in the compilation of evidence against Joseph Lebrun, 48 of Marsascala, who is pleading not guilty to charges of conspiring to deal in heroin, importing and trafficking in the drug on and before June 6.

Mr Lebrun was the fourth man to be charged in connection with the drug find. Silvio Buttigieg, 32 of Cospicua was the first to appear in court on June 8 and, on July 1, the police arraigned Angelus Vella, 52, of Cospicua, and Jason Said, 32, of Fgura.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara explained that on June 6 police were informed that there was to be a drug deal in the Cirkewwa area.

Police set up a road block in the area and stopped a red Pajero driven by Mr Said and a Toyota driven by Mr Buttigieg.

Police also learnt that there had been boats involved in the operation and these were a power boat KC Valletta belonging to Mr Lebrun and Mr Vella's cabin cruiser. The two boats were stopped by Armed Forces of Malta officers.

Mr Lebrun was found to be in the company of a certain Mario Cini. During a search of his boat the police seized Lm729 and €2,900 and other foreign currency. They also seized a satellite phone, two mobile phones and infrared binoculars.

The inspector added he was informed that a bag suspected to contain drugs was found in one of the vehicles.

On June 6 and 7 Mr Lebrun was questioned and he chose not to answer. Police investigations led to the arraignment of Mr Buttigieg and later of Mr Said and Mr Vella.

Then, in the beginning of this month, new evidence led to the arraignment of Mr Lebrun. This evidence consisted of telephone conversation recordings.

The recordings showed that on May 24 there had been communication between Mr Said and a foreigner whose name could not be divulged at this stage. On May 25 Mr Said in Tunisia communicated with Mr Lebrun in Malta and on May 26 Mr Said and Mr Lebrun spoke to a suspected drug supplier in Turkey.

The head of the Malta Security Service, Godfey Scicluna then exhibited a CD of the recorded phone conversations and their transcripts.