A man from Safi has been jailed for 30 months and fined €2,000 after being caught with nine packets of heroin outside the detox centre in October 2006.

A court heard how Silvano Cilia, 40, chucked a piece of foil containing the drugs away when he saw the police approaching the detox centre, which is frequented by recovering drug users.

In a statement to the police, Cilia denied throwing anything away.

A bag of heroin was found at Cilia's home during a search by the police.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia noted that Cilia could not explain why he went to the detox centre at 6am when it opens its doors at 7am.

He told police in his statement that he always goes that early, but the Magistrate said there was no logical reason why he would spend one hour staring until the detox centre opened.

The Magistrate noted that Cilia was unemployed at the time, so certainly wasn't going to the detox in order to be first in line in order to make it on time to work.

She also noted Cilia's considerable criminal record, which spans  12 previous convictions.

 

Inspector Nezren Grixti prosecuted.