Two men arraigned over suspected Paceville drug deals
Police officers noted two men involved in a drug transaction last Saturday in the island's nightlife city
Two Somali men were arraigned in court after allegedly selling cannabis in Paceville.
In one arraignment, 25-year-old Ahmed Abdi Mohamed admitted to trafficking cannabis and dealing in cocaine. He was sentenced to one year in prison and fined €500.
In a separate arraignment, 23-year-old Mowlid Ahmed Salah was charged with possessing cannabis and cocaine with the intent to traffic.
Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace heard how, on Saturday, officers from the Drug Squad, together with police from the St Julian's police station and the community policing team, were carrying out surveillance in the Paceville area when they observed the two men involved in a drug transaction with an Italian national who was attempting to buy cannabis.
During a subsequent search, police allegedly found Salah in possession of sachets containing suspected cannabis and cocaine. Salah was remanded in custody.
The prosecution was led by lawyer Nadia Ciappara from the Office of the Attorney General, assisted by Police Inspectors Nico Zarb and James Turner.
Lawyer Mark Anthony Mifsud Cutajar appeared for Mohamed, while lawyers Franco Debono, Adreana Zammit and Eman Scicluna represented Salah.