The name of one of the two men is protected by a court ban. The two men were charged separately and Friday’s hearing was of Joseph Rizzo, 42, known as Tiny.

Rizzo is accused of possessing 3.5 kilograms of cannabis with intent to deal with third parties.

Police inspector Maurice Curmi told the court that the police had been monitoring Rizzo from the time he left Cirkewwa. He then went to see Joseph Buttigieg in Qala, which is when the police swooped.

They searched Buttigieg’s house, finding about Lm120 in cash, but no drug-related paraphernalia. The police then searched the car that Rizzo and the other man were in and found 3.5 kilogrammes of cannabis under the passenger seat (which is where Rizzo was sitting).

The police also found traces of cocaine and a joint outside the car.

Rizzo denied everything and told the police that the drugs had absolutely nothing to do with him. The other man told the police that he had only given Rizzo a lift to Gozo and that he was due for a meeting with the owners of a company. However, subsequent police investigations established that the claim was untrue.

The case continues. Police inspectors Nadia Lanzon and Maurice Curmi are prosecuting.