The drug kingpin Jordan Azzopardi has been re-arrested by police after a car chase developed in Madliena.

He was arrested on Friday at around 4pm. The police said in a statement that the man, who resides in Madliena, is being held in connection with trafficking and possessing cocaine.

The police said that officers started following the man, who was driving a BMW, at around 3.15pm on information that he was likely to be carrying drugs.

As soon as he realised he was being followed, the man, Azzopardi, drove off at speed and hit some cars, but he was surrounded by officers, caught and arrested after he was found to be in possession of cocaine.

Azzopardi, 32, was already out on police bail as he faced charges relating to drug trafficking and to running a secret drug factory in Wardija.

Magistrate Monica Vella is leading an inquiry.

Azzopardi was first arrested in March 2019 along with his girlfriend after police raided his properties.

He stands charged with drug trafficking, criminal conspiracy, money laundering, circulation of counterfeit cash, possession of an unlicensed weapon, threatening and injuring a third party and breaching previous bail conditions.

He was however granted bail in 2021.

His conditions including signing a bail book every day, observing a curfew and other conditions. It was secured by a €150,000 personal guarantee. A third party guarantor was also required to provide a €50,000 guarantee which would also be forfeited if Azzopardi breached his bail conditions.

Last December, he was jailed for seven months over an assault which happened in 2015, where the premeditated attack left its victim naked in the street and requiring hospital treatment for his injuries.