An unlicensed bouncer has been kept under arrest after being charged with the possession and trafficking of cocaine and ecstasy.

Casey Anthony Vella was ar-rested after being found carrying some 150 grams of cocaine, a number of ecstasy pills and a small amount of mephedrone and cannabis. On Sunday the police said the drugs were found in packets ready for trafficking and that a search at the bouncer’s house revealed electric weighing scales, small plastic bags and about 1,000 more ecstasy pills.

Yesterday, the 29-year-old from Qawra pleaded not guilty to being in possession of and trafficking drugs in the past months. He also pleaded not guilty to doing so 100 metres from areas occupied by young people.

Mr Vella was also charged with working as a bouncer without being in possession of a licence.

Defence lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha did not ask for bail but requested placing Mr Vella in the forensic unit.

The court upheld a request by prosecuting officer Malcolm Bondin for the freezing of Mr Vella’s assets. Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona presided.

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