Roberto Conte, a 34-year-old Maltese of Italian descent, and 23-year-old Graziella Attard stand accused of importing nine kilogrammes of cannabis resin on 4 November. They are also accused of drug possession, conspiracy and trafficking.
Police inspector Nezren Grixti said that police had heard about the intended importation and decided to search all the cars which were on board the Sicily to Malta catamaran. Insp. Grixti said that the police began to search Conte’s car and found five plastic containers, each containing cannabis soaps with a net weight of nine kilogrammes.
“They were hidden under and behind the seats. The next morning, we obtained a warrant and searched the couple’s house. We found 14 pieces of cannabis resin, tin foil, ready-rolled joints and rolling papers,” said Insp. Grixti.
Subsequently, the police interrogated Conte who told them he owed Lm8,000 in debts to Bank of Valletta. He said that he had been spoken to over the telephone by a man and a deal was struck to bring drugs to Malta from Sicily.
“He went to Sicily and on to Naples and bought about Lm3,600 worth of drugs. He bought them for about Lm64 per soap and was going to sell them in Malta at about Lm250 a piece,” said the inspector.
The inspector told the court, presided over by magistrate Abigail Lofaro, that the accused had embarked upon such operations before and had imported drugs in May and July of this year.
The police then turned their attentions to Graziella Attard. At first she denied any knowledge of what had transpired, but later admitted that she knew what had happened.
She said that they had taken Lm4,000 up to Naples with them. She also told police that on 3 November, Roberto Conte left the hotel room at about 7am, returned a short time later and immediately stashed the drugs in the car. She said that a man called Charles, who she suspected was Maltese, agreed to pay them Lm9,000.
The court processed Attard’s bail application and granted house arrest against a deposit of Lm5,000 and a personal guarantee of Lm15,000. Conte did not apply for bail. The case continues.
Police inspector Nezren Grixti prosecuted while Dr Joe Giglio appeared for the defence.