Drug courier jailed

A 26-year-old Libyan man has been jailed for six years and fined Lm3,500 for importing 493 grammes of cannabis resin into Malta two years ago.

Mohammed Salem Shaibub pleaded guilty to drug possession, importation and conspiracy on May 28, 2001.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano heard how Shaibub was stopped by sea port officials on his arrival to Malta and a block of cannabis was found strapped to his back. Shaibub then handed the officials another block.

The magistrate noted that Shaibub had been carrying about Lm1,725 worth but had a clean criminal record.

He remarked that although Shaibub had filed a guilty plea, the court did not want to transmit the message that one could import drugs and then be let off scot free for pleading guilty.

The magistrate ordered that the time Shaibub spent in preventive custody be deducted from his jail term and ordered that he be deported after serving time.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara prosecuted.