Drugs hidden in oven during police search

Two police inspectors yesterday gave an account of investigations into a drug deal that ended up in the arrest of three people and the seizure of almost 10 kilogrammes of cannabis resin.

Police Inspectors Pierre Grech and Norbert Ciappara took the witness stand separately before Magistrate Miriam Hayman and explained how half the drugs were found in a car following a chase while the other half was found hidden in an oven.

They were testifying in the compilation of evidence against Charles Camilleri, 37, of Marsa, Joseph Zerafa, 30, and his 27-year-old wife Censina, both of Marsaxlokk who are pleading not guilty to conspiring to deal in almost 10 kilogrammes of cannabis and with trafficking in the drug.

The officers explained that on May 3 they were instructed by Police Superintendent Neil Harrison to go to Marsaxlokk where a drug deal was about to take place.

They went to the identified area with their two separate teams. There they saw a white Suzuki Swift with two men inside and, as the men noticed that the police were in the area, they sped off.

A car chase ensued that ended when the Suzuki was stopped in Marsascala. The car was driven by Mr Zerafa.

During a search of the car, the police found a bag containing several bars of cannabis resin and another bar was found on the front passenger's seat.

Officers also found that Mr Camilleri was in possession of Lm262.

They then searched the suspects' residences where they found small pieces of resin and Lm360 at Mr Zerafa's house.

Inspector Ciappara testified that while the two police teams had gone to intercept the Suzuki, another was assigned to keep a close watch on the houses of the two men.

Mrs Zerafa was noticed leaving her home carrying a parcel and making her way to her in-laws' house. The police searched the house of the in-laws but did not find anything and Mrs Zerafa denied hiding anything there.

Then, the following day, after Mr Zerafa and Mr Camilleri were arrested, Mr Zerafa released a statement in which he told the police that a person had asked him and Mr Camilleri to keep the drugs in exchange for money.

Mr Zerafa also told the police he had called his wife and asked her to take a parcel containing more drugs to his parents' house.

Confronted with his information, Mrs Zerafa showed the police where she had hidden the parcel - in an oven.

Investigations showed that Mr Zerafa's parents were not aware about all this.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Kris Busietta appeared for Mr Camilleri.

Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Emmanuel Mallia represented the Zerafas.