Foreigners caught with drugs remanded in custody
21-year-old Sugeidy Margarita Novas Castillo, who hails from the Domenican Republic but holds a Spanish Identity Card, was this morning charged with conspiring to deal in heroin and ecstasy, importing the drugs, and having them in possession with the intent to sell.
33-year-old Ghanaian Stephen Nana Owusu, who also holds a Spanish Identity Card, was charged with the same crimes but only for heroin.
Both came to Malta on a flight from Brussels on Monday night.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody.
In a statement, the police said that a kilo of heroin and 3,000 pills, probably ecstasy were found in a false compartment in the woman's luggage.
They said that medical tests at Mater Dei Hospital established that the Ghanaian was carrying more than 74 capsules each containing around 10 grammes of heroin.
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Denis Catania
Jul 16th 2009, 16:37
@Sam Barbara: They do make them pay for their stay in prison, by paying them 18 cents an hour. Most have to work for Unicor a prison owned company who makes everything they need in all federal prisons and they even make products for the federal government such as furniture. In the U.S if you try to re-enter after being deported the min sentence is 5 years.
Sam Barbara
Jul 15th 2009, 22:12
Great job on the arrests. Malta does not people like this on their shores. We do the same thing in the states and i say why jail them. Deport them. Or make them pay for their stay in jail.
Denis Catania
Jul 15th 2009, 15:59
Does Malta need this added crimes against our youngsters?? Well done to Malta's custom agents.
James McAdam
Jul 15th 2009, 14:57
It is time to take a strong stand against drug traffickers and migrants using Malta as a safe refuge. I grew up in Malta and still feel it as my home. I visited this precious islad in 2006, and I want to come back and live my retirement here, But the jellyfish, the illegal migrants, the drugs? Where is my home of the '60s and '70s?
DVella
Jul 15th 2009, 14:07
An attempt to import and/or sell illegal narcotics is an attack on civilised society and society (ie the taxpayer) should not have to foot the bill for their punishment. These persons should pay their debt for their attack on maltese society by undergoing compulsory community service of some sort (under guard naturally) or another and not by being put in prison and costing the taxpayer more money!!!!
Francesca Abela
Jul 15th 2009, 13:37
After have confiscated the drugs and made them pay the fine deport them on the next planes out.
C. Agius
Jul 15th 2009, 13:36
Depart them from our shores not after serving their sentence - they only cost us - the tax payer - money to feed them and service their needs whilst in jail.
Mark Galea
Jul 15th 2009, 13:28
@Igalea
Agree with you completely on this one.
lgalea
Jul 15th 2009, 13:10
Deport them after serving their sentence.