Two charged with pushing ecstasy

A 16-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man were yesterday charged with trafficking in ecstasy.

In the first case, the 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to trafficking in ecstasy, being in possession of the drug with the intent to sell and being in possession of heroin on and before Monday.

He admitted to the simple possession of cocaine and was remanded in police custody.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ordered a ban on the publication of his name after hearing that he was helping the police in their investigations. In a separate arraignment, a 16-year-old boy - whose name is not being published because he is a minor - pleaded not guilty to trafficking in ecstasy, being in possession of cannabis resin, committing the crimes within 100 metres from a school or youth centre and breaching the conditions of a previous court ruling.

The teenager was granted bail on condition he does not leave his home without court permission and was bound by a personal guarantee of €2,000.

Police Inspector Pierre Grech prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for both defendants.