A 19-year old Syrian youth was granted bail after denying his involvement in a cannabis drug find last Saturday in Swieqi. Alna Fouri Mohamad Nour, who resides in Swieqi, was granted bail after pleading not guilty to charges of drug possession with intent traffic and relapsing.

On Saturday, drug squad officers were informed that the accused was hiding or retrieving drugs from inside a rubble wall close to an apartment he used in Swieqi. Searching the area, the police found a bag containing 650grams of cannabis grass.

This was replaced with a dummy package and the area was kept under observation. Moments later Nour was seen approaching the scene, pick up the bag and upon realising it was empty threw it away.

The youth was immediately arrested and a search was done at the apartment close to where the drugs were found. Inside the residence drug paraphernalia were found. The police also found that an internal shaft connected the apartment to an abandoned building. A further 600 grams of cannabis resin were found under the window sill leading to the abandoned building.

Defence lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran requested bail for the accused, arguing that all his family resides in Malta. His father is a naturalised citizen and his mother's application for citizenship is being processed.

"He answered all questions during his statement, there are no civil witnesses and has vouched to reside with his parents," the lawyer said. Prosecuting officer Nikolai Sant argued that the accused did not cooperate with the investigators and had a history of hindering police work in drug related cases. "He is not trustworthy and claims that he earns money from football and boxing are all lies,” he said.

Magistrate Edwina Grima, granted the accused bail against a deposit of €3,000 and a personal guarantee of €15,000. Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted while lawyers Gianluca Caruana Curran and Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.