A man was jailed for 18 months for trafficking heroin six years ago.

John Mary Axiaq, 42, from Żabbar was also found guilty of being in possession of the drug and relapsing.

The court was convinced that he had been dealing in drugs.

The case dates to April 14, 2008, when the police received a tip-off that six people were abusing drugs at a house in Main Street, Żabbar. Inside, the police found 14 empty sachets of heroin and other drug-related items.

Drug users testified that they purchased drugs from the accused. One said he used to buy two to three sachets of heroin a week. Mr Axiaq had once told him he wanted to stop abusing drugs because he was becoming well known to the police due to his popularity among drug users.

Dismissing Mr Axiaq’s argument that the drugs were for his personal use, Magistrate Marseann Farrugia said it was clear he had been dealing in the substance.

She jailed him for 18 months, fined him €1,000 and ordered him to start a drug rehabilitation programme.

Police inspector Fabian Fleri prosecuted.