A Colombian man who was undergoing criminal proceedings over conspiracy to deal in cocaine and who fled Malta last March, has been extradited to Malta to continue facing justice. 

John Faber Uruena Molina, 33, a Columbian resident in Madrid, apologised for his "mistake". He said that when he realised that he had committed a mistake, he gave himself in to the Spanish authorities. 

Mr Molina had been charged in court on August 13, 2013, after the drug squad police apprehended a drug mule, Gloria Stella Vargas Pena, 40, a Colombian-born woman resident in Madrid. She was arrested as she was attempting to import 200 grams of cocaine found hidden in several capsules inside her stomach. She was arrested upon her arrival in Malta. 

She had admitted to the charges and told investigators that Mr Molina had organised the trip and was the mastermind behind the importation. 

Mr Molina was subsequently arraigned in court charged with conspiring to deal in drugs and to importation of drugs into Malta. 

He had appeared before Magistrate Miriam Hayman, now promoted to judge, and had been granted bail. 

Police Inspector Nicolai Sant told Magistrate Ian Farrugia today that Mr Molina had been attending court sittings until March, when he disappeared and could not be found by the police. 

A European Arrest Warrant was issued and in June the Maltese police were informed by their Spanish counterparts that Mr Molina had been found. He faced extradition proceedings and arrived back in Malta on Tuesday. 

Inspector Sant said he had been told by the Spanish police that Mr Molina had turned himself in and had consented to his extradition. He also informed the court that the Spanish court had ordered that once Mr Molina's case is over and if he is found guilty, he should serve his jail term in Spain. 

Mr Molina told Magistrate Farrugia that he was sorry for what he had done and had returned to Malta voluntarily to face justice. The magistrate ruled that the arrest was warranted and ordered that the drug conspiracy case against Mr Molina continues. He was remanded in custody. 

Lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared for the man.