Six years jail for cannabis trafficking

A 29-year-old man was yesterday jailed for six years and eight months and fined Lm3,800 after he admitted to trafficking in almost two kilogammes of cannabis resin three years ago.

On handing down judgment Magistrate Saviour Demicoli noted that it was the court's duty to safeguard society from the scourge caused by drugs.

On the other hand, he noted that Ambrose Zammit had filed an early plea and that his mother had testified that he started abusing drugs as a result of a family trauma. Mr Zammit, of Mellieha, pleaded guilty to conspiring to deal in cannabis resin and trafficking in the drug within 100 metres from a school or youth centre on and before September 2003.

Police Superintendent Neil Harrison and Inspector Chris Pullicino prosecuted.

Lawyer Edward Gatt appeared for Mr Zammit.