A Colombian man who escaped from Malta last March while his criminal case over conspiracy to deal in cocaine was still ongoing has been extradited to Malta after turning himself in to the Spanish police.

John Faber Uruena Molina, 33, a Colombian resident in Madrid, apologised for his “mistake”.

Mr Molina was 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 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 appeared before Magistrate Miriam Hayman, now promoted to judge, and was granted bail.

Police inspector Nicolai Sant told Magistrate Ian Farrugia yesterday that Mr Molina had been attending court sittings until March, when he went missing 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 tracked down. He was extradited to 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 was over, and if found guilty, he should serve his jail term in Spain.

This was an administrative matter, as EU nationals are usually allowed to serve jail time in their country.

Asked whether he had anything to say – since he was not pleading guilty or not guilty to any charge – Mr Molina told Magistrate Farrugia 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 continue. He was remanded in custody.

Lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared for the man.