Jail, fine for pushing cannabis

A 28-year-old man was jailed for six months and fined €466 after he was found guilty of trafficking in cannabis eight years ago.

Magistrate Laurence Quintano heard that Darryl Vassallo, together with his friends, went to Buġibba to buy cannabis resin. Mr Vassallo told the court he had met a Libyan and asked him for the cannabis, adding that he bought four blocks weighing 16.4 grammes.

Police Superintendent Nicholas Ciappara told the court he had received a call from the Armed Forces of Malta that they had stopped a car during a road block in Dingli and had found what they suspected were drugs.

Mr Vassallo said the drugs were intended to be consumed by all those was in the car with him.

The court noted that, although the drugs were meant to be shared among Mr Vassallo and his friends, the accused admitted to approaching the Libyan and buying the drugs and this would constitute trafficking.

Taking note of the positive aspects of the case, such as the fact that Mr Vassallo had not had any problems with the law since this incident, he has successfully completed a drug rehabilitation programme and had a clean police record, the magistrate jailed Mr Vassallo for six months and fined him €466.