An Englishman was charged yesterday with conspiring to traffic drugs and importing 50,000 ecstasy pills, yet was granted bail against a deposit of Lm10,000.

Steven John Lewis Marsden, 45, from Sheffield in the United Kingdom, but who lives in St Paul’s Bay, was charged with conspiring with people in Malta and abroad to import ecstasy pills into the country. He was also charged with importing more than 50,000 ecstasy pills and with being in possession of the banned drug.

Mr Marsden pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. Magistrate Dennis Montebello acceded to a request for bail by legal aid Leslie Cuschieri and granted him bail against a deposit of Lm10,000. He did not impose a personal guarantee upon the defendant, but ordered the freezing of all his assets. Mr Marsden’s demeanour was calm throughout the proceedings.

Police inspectors Norbert Ciappara and Dennis Theuma objected to Mr Marsden being granted bail, saying that he had not cooperated at all with the police in their investigations. They also pointed out that he had obstructed them when they were carrying out their investigations and had generally been a hindrance, to the extent that the police had searched his Mitsubishi Pajero for eight hours before they found the pills that were hidden inside.

The police officers, who looked quite annoyed that Mr Marsden was granted bail, told the court that the man has strong links with foreigners, especially in the UK and Spain.

Monday’s haul is believed to have been the biggest ever in Malta and the market value of the ecstasy pills is estimated to be in the region of about Lm250,000.

Police inspectors Norbert Ciappara and Dennis Theuma prosecuted, while Dr Leslie Cuschieri appeared for the defendant as legal aid.