A pregnant woman was found locked in a garage sorting drugs in packets when the police raided a number of stables in Marsa on Friday, it resulted in court yesterday.
Erika Vella, 27, of Gżira, appeared before Magistrate Anthony Vella yesterday charged with possession of cannabis resin, heroin and cocaine in amounts that denoted it was not for her personal use.
She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €5,000. She must also sign daily at the Sliema police station.
Police Inspector Gabriel Micallef said Ms Vella was found in a garage packing drugs, something she did with her consent. She was found in possession of 400g of cannabis and 150 packets of heroin and cocaine amounting to 30g.
Ms Vella was arrested during a raid by the Drug Squad on Friday after weeks of surveillance after a tip-off about possible drug trafficking. The Rapid Intervention Unit and the district police assisted.
Two men – Rosario Cortis, 31, of Qormi and Carmel Muscat, 40, of Rabat – who were arrested during the same search were granted bail after they pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine that was not for their personal use.
Mr Muscat also pleaded not guilty to being a relapser.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri, for the accused, asked for bail but the prosecution objected because of the gravity of the case and said the place where the raid took place was known for drug trafficking and the two were found on site.
Dr Debono said Mr Cortis, a coachman, had eight horses in various stables within the vicinities of the Marsa racecourse.
He had bought a mare and had no place to keep her, so he was offered to take her to the stables where the drugs were allegedly found for some days. When he went to feed the animal, the police turned up and he was arrested.
Dr Debono insisted it was a case of aggravated possession and not drug trafficking and there were no witnesses.
The magistrate granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €4,000 each.
Ms Vella was also represented by lawyer Kathleen Grima.