Men arrested in two counter narcotics operations on Thursday have been denied bail after pleading not guilty to related charges this morning.

A car being driven by 25 year-old James Micallef from Birkirkara had been stopped by police yesterday and was found to be transporting some 5 kg of cannabis resin which had allegedly just been collected from another man.

This seizure led the police to the second and larger haul, from a farmhouse in the limits of Mosta, and where 40 year-old Leo Galea was also arrested.

Galea was found to be in possession of 10 kg of cannabis resin, as well as two unlicensed revolvers.

Both men were charged with conspiracy to traffic drugs, trafficking cannabis resin and possession of the drug in circumstances which indicated that it was not intended for personal use.

Galea alone was also charged with unlicensed possession of firearms.

Micallef was further charged with having breached two previous bail decrees, the first dating back to 2017 proceedings for the possession of 100 grams of cocaine and the second, relating to June 2018 proceedings in which he was accused of possession of a staggering 100 kg of cannabis.

Both men today pleaded not guilty. Bail was denied by magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, who also issued freezing orders upon all assets of both accused.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Ishmael Psaila were defence counsel to Galea, whilst lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared for Micallef.

Inspector Frank Anthony Tabone prosecuted.