Vegetable hawker jailed over greens of the narcotic kind

A truck driver turned vegetable hawker was yesterday jailed for six years and fined €15,000 by Mr Justice Michael Mallia after he admitted to being in possession of almost a kilo of cannabis resin in 2008. Anthony Calleja, 25, from Birkirkara was...

A truck driver turned vegetable hawker was yesterday jailed for six years and fined €15,000 by Mr Justice Michael Mallia after he admitted to being in possession of almost a kilo of cannabis resin in 2008. Anthony Calleja, 25, from Birkirkara was arrested after the police received a tip-off and then spotted him leaving a garage carrying a packet of drugs.

They searched the boot of his car and found a plastic bag containing 927 grams of cannabis, which, at the time, had a street value of €5,932.

The case was meant to be a trial by jury. However, the accused admitted straight away. Mr Calleja was also charged with being in possession of drugs that were not for his exclusive use.

During plea bargaining with the Attorney General, his lawyers, José Herrera, Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri, settled for six years imprisonment and the fine.

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