Former soldier convicted of dealing in ecstasy

A former gunner with the Armed Forces of Malta was yesterday given a two-year jail term suspended for four year and fined Lm2,000 for trafficking in 90 ecstasy pills.

He took the pills to Gozo on his boat with the intention of selling them during the Santa Maria feast celebrations nine years ago.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera found Anthony Joseph Portelli, 30, of Bugibba guilty of trafficking in ecstasy and committing the crime on August 15, 1997, when it was his duty to prevent it as an AFM officer.

Police Superintendent Neil Harrison, prosecuting, said the police had been informed that Mr Portelli was going to take drugs to Gozo during the Santa Maria celebrations when there were to be several parties in Gozo.

The police went to Marsalforn where they kept a close watch on Mr Portelli.

They noticed him making a phone call from a phone booth. He then walked towards a certain Conrad Agius and, after some time, the two parted ways.

Mr Agius entered a nearby hotel and Mr Portelli boarded his speedboat, lifted a seat and took out a packet of cigarettes.

Some time later the police saw Mr Portelli give the packet to Mr Agius and, when they intervened, they found that the packet contained 90 ecstasy pills which Mr Portelli said were to be sold for about Lm7 each.

It also resulted that Mr Portelli was a gunner at the Maritime Squadron.

Lawyer José Herrera and Roberto Montalto appeared for Mr Portelli.