A 42-year-old man who was set to earn some €500 for acting as a middleman in the sale of 7.5kg of cannabis resin was today jailed for 10 years and six months after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges instead of facing a trial by jury.

Sliema resident Jeremy Ciantar was first arrested on 12 October 2008, along with Francis Bonnett, the man who was selling the drugs, and their would-be purchaser Kevin Gatt. The two men are awaiting trial.

Mr Gatt was set to purchase 24 blocks of cannabis resin at around €700 apiece, and Mr Ciantar accompanied him to Mr Bonnett’s residence to deliver a bag containing some €16,000 in cash.

The trio then walked to Mr Bonnett’s car, which was parked close to the Salesian Oratory, and Mr Bonnett handed over two bags containing the cannabis resin to Mr Ciantar.

But the police had been tipped off about the deal and were keeping a close eye on the proceedings. The three men were thus arrested as soon as the transaction was completed.

Mr Ciantar was granted bail, only to leave the country through the use of false travel documents. However, he was eventually tracked in Holland and was arrested by Dutch police just in time: as he was about to board a flight to Thailand at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

He was granted bail yet again, albeit under stricter conditions, on May 2012, and his trial by jury was set to begin today. But after the prosecution and the defence reached a plea agreement, Mr Ciantar opted to plead guilty to the charges of drug trafficking and of association to traffic drugs.

In line with this agreement, Mr Justice Michael Mallia jailed Mr Ciantar for 10 years and six months, and fined him €24,000.

Lawyer Elaine Mercieca Rizzo prosecuted on behalf of the Attorney General, while lawyer Franco Debono represented Mr Ciantar.