Trafficker's jail term reduced on grounds of low drug purity

A man had his jail term reduced from 27 months to 12 months after an appeal court ruled that the first court had not taken into account the "extremely low" purity of the drug.

Martin Farrugia had been found guilty of trafficking and possessing the drug in circumstances denoting it was not for his exclusive use in 2005.

The Court of Criminal Appeal heard how Mr Farrugia had denied possessing the drug while travelling on the Gozo ferry.

However police officers, who were instructed to stop and search Mr Farrugia on the boat, had seen him throwing a small plastic bag under his car.

Mr Justice David Scicluna said there had been sufficient grounds to find Mr Farrugia guilty on all counts. However, the Magistrates' Court had not taken into consideration the "extremely low" purity of the drug.

Out of 36.94 grammes found, only three per cent of the drug was pure which meant that only 1.1 grammes were effectively cocaine. The judge therefore reduced the previous 27-month jail term to 12 months.