Dutchman accused of importing drugs

A Curacao-born man of Dutch nationality was today charged in court with importing cocaine.

Rachyd Curiel, 21, pleaded not guilty to being in possession of cocaine in circumstances denoting that the drug was not for his personal use.

Mr Curiel also pleaded not guilty to conspiring with other people to import drugs. The court refused to grant Mr Curiel bail and remanded him in custody.

The police are alleging that Mr Curiel carried cocaine in 43 capsules in his stomach and another 11 in his underpants. He was arrested after flying in on a flight from Amsterdam.

In a separate case, Luke Psaila, 21, and Bertram Zahra, 18, both from Zejtun, pleaded not guilty to stealing various electronic items on Monday in Zejtun. They also denied causing up to €116 in damage to a shop.

Zahra alone was charged with breaching bail conditions and committing a crime in the operative term of a previous court judgement. The two were remanded them in custody.