Drug courier was to be paid $2,000

A man apprehended by the police at the airport told them he was aware he was carrying drugs and that the capsules found in his body were destined for a drug dealer, jurors heard yesterday.

Superintendent Sandro Gatt explained that, on being arrested, Abdel Manil Mohammed Bakkush told the police he was to be paid $2,000 for transporting drugs into Malta and handing them over to a man he recognised to be Mahmud Ali Amber.

The officer was testifying before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono in the trial by jury of Mr Amber, of Libya, who is pleading not guilty to conspiring to deal in heroin and cannabis resin.

Superintendent Gatt said that on January 31, 2001, at about 7.30 p.m. Mr Bakkush was apprehended at the airport on suspicion that he had imported drugs. He was taken to St Luke's Hospital where an X-ray revealed three capsules in his body.

The following day the police questioned Mr Bakkush who explained that he was a businessman and had travelled to Malta from Casablanca, Morocco.

He said he had been instructed by a certain Fathi to bring the capsules to Malta and hand them over to Mr Amber. He said he knew Mr Amber was married to a Maltese woman, drove a white Daewoo and sold drugs in Malta.

The trial continues this morning.

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara is prosecuting.

Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Emmanuel Mallia are appearing for Mr Amber.