Three jailed, fined for drug trafficking

Three Qormi men have each been jailed for 27 months and fined Lm500 for drug trafficking.

Jesmond Galea, 29, and brothers Michael and Mario Scicluna, 26 and 22, were found guilty of dealing in cocaine between August 1 and November 30, 1997.

The Sciclunas were also found guilty of selling the drug within 100 metres of a school or youth club, while Mario Scicluna alone, was also found guilty of driving without a licence or insurance cover.

Galea alone was also found guilty of breaching the conditions of a previous release. He pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him while the others pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani-Grima heard how on September 8, 1997, the police drug squad was informed that a certain Michael Scicluna, who drove a silver Hyundai Accent, was selling drugs near the Löwenbräu factory in Qormi.

Police went to the scene and found Scicluna in the Hyundai. With him were another two men. Scicluna was arrested and the Hyundai towed to headquarters. On the way they saw him throw sachets out of the car and they picked them up and took them to the laboratory for analysis. The sachets were found to contain cocaine.

Michael Scicluna told police that his brother Mario, had lent him Lm300 of the Lm694 found in his car to pay his lawyer. He said that he could explain the origin of the rest of the money but never did.

Following this information, police investigated Mario Scicluna who said that he had given Lm100 to his brother to keep while he played football. He denied lending his brother money and admitted driving without a licence and an insurance cover.

Meanwhile, on October 31, 1997, police were again informed that drugs were being sold in the Ta' Farzina area and eventually arrested Galea who was driving a Honda CRX.

Subsequent investigations led to drug users who claimed to have bought drugs from one or more of the defendants and Magistrate Padovani-Grima pointed out Michael Scicluna as the mastermind of the drug ring.

She found them guilty and banned Mario Scicluna from driving for six months.

Police Inspector Nicholas Ciappara prosecuted.