Man denies drug charge

A man was yesterday charged with being in possession of cocaine that was found in circumstances denoting it was not for his personal use.

Vincent Calleja, 41, from Gżira, also denied being in possession of cannabis.

Police received confidential information that drugs were being sold from a flat in Gżira, the court heard.

On arrival they found Mr Calleja on the roof of a block of apartments and handed him a search warrant.

They also seized his mobile phone but he immediately became aggressive, challenging the police to remove their uniforms and fight.

Officers also searched a neighbour who happened to be on the roof at the same time but the search proved negative.

In Mr Calleja’s apartment police found cannabis resin in a bedside table and another suspicious substance, believed to be cocaine, in a glass jar containing rice.

More of the substance was found packed in sachets along with drug-related paraphernalia including weighing scales.

Mr Calleja denied the charges and Magistrate Audrey Demicoli granted him bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €2,500.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana prosecuted.