One of the accused admits drug charges

Jurors in a drug trial yesterday heard how two police officers who were on their way to investigate a case involving a stolen van stopped to talk to two suspicious-looking men and, as they stopped near them, one threw a plastic bag into a field.

PS Eric Mangion and PC Darrel Decelis explained how, on their way to check about a stolen vehicle near the Bulebel industrial estate, they drove past two men who looked as though they were up to something.

"The way they were behaving made it seem like they were planning something... Like they were handling something," PS Mangion said.

On seeing the officers, one of the man, Nazzareno Muscat, threw a white plastic bag into a field.

PC Decelis retrieved it and found three packets inside it. Experts eventually said the packets contained cannabis resin.

A search on the other man, Clayton Galea, revealed he was in the possession of over Lm1,000 (€2,329) but no drugs were found in his possession. The officers escorted the men to the Żejtun police station.

The officers testified before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, in the trial of Mr Galea, 25, of Ħamrun who is pleading not guilty to conspiring to deal in cannabis and the possession of the drug with the intent to sell it on and before July 12, 2004.

Mr Muscat, 39, of Żejtun, yesterday filed a guilty plea to the same charges and, consequently, his case was separated from Mr Galea's. Mr Muscat's case is to be decided tomorrow.

Attorney General Office lawyer Aaron Bugeja, prosecuting, asked the court to allow Mr Muscat to testify in the case against Mr Galea. The judge turned down the request as this would raise several legal difficulties.

Testifying in Mr Galea's case, Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara explained how he took over the investigations after Mr Muscat and Mr Galea were arrested. He ordered a search in the residences of the accused.

During a search of Mr Galea's house, the police found several items related to the consumption of cannabis such as pipes, cigarette rolling paper, cigarette roaches and pistol-shaped lighters.

He said that, in a statement to the police, Mr Galea said he had met Mr Muscat because he had taken his car to him for repairs.

Asked why he had been at the Bulebel industrial estate with Mr Muscat, he said he had only stopped to see if he needed assistance and the police arrived shortly after.

Mr Galea denied ever taking drugs or planning to sell cannabis.

According to the bill of indictment, in the beginning of 2004, Mr Galea got to know Mr Muscat who was involved in drug dealing. In July, the two met at the Bulebel industrial estate and Mr Muscat tried to convince Mr Galea to join his drug-dealing business. Initially Mr Galea refused but he was eventually taken over by the financial aspect and agreed to join Mr Muscat.

The two agreed that Mr Muscat was to allow the use of his Żejtun apartment to store the drugs and Mr Galea would make the contacts to sell it. They would then split the profit, the bill said.

But police foiled their plans and, on July 12 2004, the police searched Mr Muscat's Żejtun apartment from where they seized five bars of cannabis resin weighing about one kilo.

Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Emmanuel Mallia appeared for Mr Galea while Lawyer José Herrera appeared for Mr Muscat.