An Italian couple were yesterday charged with the possession of half a kilogram of cannabis and 50 grams of cocaine.

Giovanni Lassandro, 51, and his 47-year-old partner, Serafina Schembri, who live in Gżira, pleaded not guilty to possessing the drugs with the intent to sell them on Saturday and before.

Mr Lassandro was also charged with trafficking both drugs and his partner was accused of trying to hide evidence from the police when she allegedly threw some of the cannabis under their car during a police search.

They were arrested after the police were anonymously informed about a couple from Gżira allegedly trafficking in drugs, sources said.

On Saturday, the police came across a car in Kappara and pulled the driver over because he was driving recklessly.

The couple in the car started acting suspiciously and, during a search, officers found drugs, the sources added.

The Italian couple’s arraignment was scheduled for midday yesterday but the sitting was not held before 1.30pm, when the magistrate arrived in court.

Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona turned down the couple’s request for bail at this stage.

Police Inspectors Jason Francis Sultana and Herman Mula prosecuted. Lawyer Joseph Ellis was legal aid to the accused.