A man was today jailed for nine years and fined €23,500 after pleading guilty to conspiring to traffic almost one kilogram of cocaine in February 2007. 

Darren Aquilina, 30, from Ta' Xbiex, pleaded guilty instead of facing a trial by jury to conspiring to deal in drug and possession of the drug. 

He had originally been charged with a Sicilian Alberto Bafumi, from Catania, who was in January last year also sentenced to nine years imprisonment. 

The court heard how Mr Aquilina and Mr Bafumi had been arrested following a raid at a flat in St Julian's on February 1, 2007. They were found in possession of almost 100 capsules containing 955.8 grams of cocaine. The court heard how Mr Aquilina had handed over €50,000 to Mr Bafumi for the cocaine with the plan to sell it to third parties. 

Before Mr Justice Michael Mallia, Mr Aquilina opted to plead guilty to the charges brought against him instead of facing a trial by jury. He admitted to conspiracy to deal in drugs, trafficking cocaine and cocaine possession in circumstances denoting it was not for his personal use. 

Mr Justice Mallia rejected the defence lawyer's argument that Mr Aquilina ought to be given less than nine years in jail as it was Mr Bafumi who purchased and supplied the cocaine. 

He disagreed with this stance, saying the two had agreed to purchase the cocaine to sell it so the conspiracy to deal in drugs followed a common design. 

He, therefore, jailed him for nine years and fined him €23,500, which is to be converted into an additional 12 months in jail if not paid immediately. The court also ordered the confiscation of all his assets and the payment of almost €4,000 in court expenses. Finally, the court ordered the destruction of the cocaine. 

Police Assistant Commissioner Norbert Ciappara prosecuted.