A Romanian woman who was earning between €4,000 and €5,000 a month dancing in Maltese clubs has been cleared of smuggling a kilogram of mephadrone, better known as Meow Meow, after a court heard she was not aware of the contents of the package addressed to her boyfriend.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman ruled there was no clear evidence that linked Ana Maria Ciocanel, a 26-year-old dancer, to the delivered substance nor was there any evidence that she knew of the contents when she accepted it on her boyfriend’s behalf.

She was ruling in the criminal case instituted by the police against Ms Ciocanel who was accused of smuggling Meow Meow into Malta on and before March 5, 2011 and conspiring with others to deal in drugs.

Magistrate Hayman heard inspector Pierre Grech explain how Customs officers intercepted a package from Prague addressed to Rodney Andrew Molt, her boyfriend, with whom she lived.

Jailed man testifies that girlfriend did not know about package’s contents

A controlled delivery was organised and a policeman posing as a postman delivered a dummy package. Ms Ciocanel accepted delivery of the package, saying her boyfriend had ordered it but he was abroad.

During her interrogation, she admitted to having previously imported “legal drugs” from Romania, including one called Flower Magic. In fact, a bag containing this drug was found inside the apartment.

When examined, it was not found to contain any controlled substance. These, the defendant told police, were simply used “to have fun with friends” and as stimulants, to help her get through entire nights of dancing.

She told police Flower Magic was similar to caffeine.

Mr Molt, who has since been jailed for six years after admitting to the importation of the package containing Meow Meow, testified that his girlfriend, who had moved in with him two weeks before the delivery, knew nothing about the parcel or its contents.

He told the court that the drug in the parcel was not an order he had made but a “free sample” sent to him prior to ordering.

Magistrate Hayman ruled there was no clear evidence that linked Ms Ciocanel to the delivered substance nor any evidence that she knew of the contents when she accepted it on her boyfriend’s behalf, especially since Mr Molt had accepted full responsibility for the package.

The magistrate therefore cleared her of the charges brought against her.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto acted as the defence counsel.