A Gozitan was yesterday jailed for 15 years and fined €25,000 after he pleaded guilty to his involvement in the delivery of some 9,500 ecstasy pills that were hidden in the frame of a mirror delivered from the UK.

Alfred Camilleri, 63, from Marsalforn, pleaded guilty rather than face a trial by jury. The court heard the drug had a street value of €135,000.

The court also heard that investigations into a suspected drug smuggling operation led police to the ecstasy pills taped behind the mirror. The large haul was made on September 7, 2006, and the police caught the people behind the operation through a controlled delivery.

When the parcel arrived on a cargo flight, the police scanned and opened it, given their reasonable suspicion that it contained drugs.

They decided to carry out a controlled delivery and put the parcel back on its original track, having removed the drugs.

Police officers kept a close watch outside the Valletta office of the shipping agents, where Mr Camilleri was seen lurking for several hours.

Mr Camilleri and another man then walked into the office and emerged carrying the parcel. The rectangular parcel was taken to Mr Camilleri’s house.

Before Mr Justice Michael Mallia, Mr Camilleri pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him, including conspiracy to import drugs into Malta and drug trafficking.

Lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili appeared for Mr Camilleri.

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