Five years' jail for cocaine trafficking

A 58-year-old man from Qormi has been jailed for five years and fined Lm3,000 for his involvement in importing 2.2 kilogrammes of cocaine from Canada into Malta four years ago.

The man, whose name and profession cannot be published by court order, was one of eight men to undergo criminal proceedings over the importation of the drugs which had been sent to Malta in the mail.

After hearing the evidence, Magistrate Joseph Cassar found the man guilty of conspiring to deal in drugs and importing and trafficking in the cocaine on and before April 23, 2001. The magistrate heard how the drugs were hidden in a parcel which was declared to contain auto parts at customs. Evidence clearly showed that the man had helped in importing the drugs and was an "important accomplice" in the importation process. The last two lines of the final 10-page judgement ordered a ban on publication of the name and profession of the man.

The judgement has been referred to by other media which, based on a draft copy of the judgement, had reported that there was a ban on publication of the case against the man.

Police Superintendent Neil Harrison and Inspector Norbert Ciappara prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for the man.