Drug pushers will be punished severely - magistrate

A 31-year-old man was yesterday jailed for six years and fined Lm3,000 for trafficking in cocaine and heroin three years ago.

Mark Mifsud pleaded guilty to the trafficking of half a kilogramme of heroin and cocaine on and before May 18, 1999.

Yesterday's conviction and the six-year jail term also led to an order for the execution of an 18-month suspended jail term bringing the total jail time to seven-and-a-half years.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro heard how the police had been tipped off about Mifsud's activities and raided a flat where they found him together with another two people. The police had found two bags of heroin and one of cocaine in a bedroom.

Mifsud told the police he had bought about 50 grammes of cocaine for Lm1,750 and 50 grammes of heroin for Lm1,500 but he refused to disclose the identity of his supplier.

He explained how he had started taking drugs and eventually started selling it.

Magistrate Lofaro heard how Mifsud had successfully completed a drug rehabilitation programme but said she could not ignore the fact that he had dealt in large quantities.

She also noted that he had not revealed the identity of his supplier and remarked that the drug problem had destroyed the lives of many people and their families.

"Society should be given the message that anyone found guilty of drug trafficking will be punished severely," she said.

Police Inspectors Sandro Gatt and Neville Aquilina prosecuted.