Judge jails cannabis importer

A 38-year-old man was yesterday jailed for 12 years and fined €28,000 (Lm12,020) for conspiring to import and actually importing nine-and-a-half kilogrammes of cannabis in 2004.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono heard Roberto Conte, an Italian national from Naples, plead guilty to the charges instead of facing a trial by jury.

He pleaded guilty to importing the cannabis resin when he arrived in Malta by catamaran from Pozzallo in Sicily on November 4, 2004. He also pleaded guilty to possessing the drug in circumstances denoting it was not for his exclusive use.

The court heard that the police had searched Mr Conte's car and had found 38 blocks of cannabis resin, weighing a total of 9.49 kilogrammes.

The head of the Attorney General's Prosecution Unit, Anthony Barbara, said the drugs were purchased in Naples and Mr Conte had imported cannabis resin on various occasions, usually accompanied by other individuals.

Lawyer Joe Mifsud appeared as legal aid to Mr Conte.