A 29-year-man from Gzira, Jomric Calleja was remanded in custody this afternoon after pleading not guilty to a series of charges.
He was arraigned today after being extradited to Malta from Sicily, where he had been on the run, yesterday.
He was arrested in Taormina in February as he was travelling on a train to Messina.
Mr Calleja was suspected to have escaped to Sicily towards the end of August, shortly before being sentenced by the Gozo Court of Appeal.
The police said yesterday that on September 1, Mr Calleja had been identified as one of the people involved in the importation of cannabis from Sicily.
Through the evidence gathered by the police and the several pending cases Mr Calleja had at the Maltese and Gozitan courts, the police requested the issue of a European Arrest Warrant for him to be returned to Malta and face charges.
This afternoon, Mr Calleja was charged with importation and trafficking of cannabis grass, possession and trafficking of cocaine, possession of a firearm, breach of bail and relapsing.
At the prosecution's request, the court ordered the freezing of the accused's assets.
Inspectors Herman Mula and James Grech prosecuted.