Two young men were arraigned in court this afternoon, charged with trafficking 103 ecstasy pills.

Gozitan Gordon Micallef, 19 who lives in Birkirkara and works as a plasterer, and 21-year-old Kevin Gauci, a mechanic from Mellieha, were arrested as they were about to join a party at Armier. 

Mr Micallef was charged with the aggravated possession of 75 ecstasy pills, committing a crime within an area frequented by youths, breaching bail conditions and relapsing. 

Prosecuting officer Jonathan Cassar strongly objected to him being granted bail, highlighting the amount and thus the gravity of the crime, the fact that he was in an area full of young people and the fact that he was on bail for a similar alleged offence. In January, Mr Micallef had been arrested for allegedly trafficking 90 ecstasy pills. 

"He is not trustworthy," Insp. Cassar told Magistrate Doreen Clarke.

Defence lawyer Joe Brincat requested bail, arguing that it was "unacceptable" to label someone as untrustworthy where there were no valid reasons to fear him absconding. 

"Yes - by the way - he can go off to Gozo," the lawyer noted sardonically. 

The court turned down the request for bail. 

Mr Gauci was charged with trafficking 28 ecstasy pill and committing a crime within an area frequented by youths. 

His lawyer, Lorna Mifsud Cachia, countered the prosecution's objections to bail by pointing out that the amount was much less than that of Mr Micallef. The alleged crime was committed in a place frequented by youths because he himself was a youth, she argued. 

Mr Gauci was granted bail against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €3,000.