A Nigerian man was charged on Saturday with having imported 200 grammes of cocaine and half-a-kilo of cannabis resin into Malta.

Twenty-six-year-old Isaac Anthony Ugochukwu pleaded not guilty to importing the drugs on Friday. He was charged with drug importation, conspiracy to import drugs, drug

possession and possession of a false passport.

The police said that the operation to monitor Ugochukwu had been underway for some days, in collaboration with the Customs Anti-Drug Squad. The accused denied the charges against him but the court, presided over by magistrate Abigail Lofaro ordered that he be remanded in custody pending further hearings.

Meanwhile, a 31-year-old was also charged with theft and relapsing. Norman Galea, from Mellieha, was accused of having stolen sundry items from various households in Mellieha and relapsing in view of previous convictions.

He was granted bail.