Emanuel Calleja was arrested on Saturday night at the Clique nightclub in Paceville. Photo: Paul Spiteri LucasA bouncer of a Paceville nightclub was yesterday charged with a series of drug-related offences, including conspiring to deal in drugs and drug trafficking.
Emanuel Calleja, 29, from Birżebbuġa, was arrested on Saturday night at nightclub Clique, where he was allegedly working as a bouncer.
He was charged with conspiring to deal in cocaine and ecstasy, possession of the drugs found in circumstances denoting they were not for his personal use and to dealing in drugs within 100 metres of a venue frequented by youths.
Sources said Mr Calleja had been under investigation for some time before his arrest in Paceville during the early hours of Sunday. He was allegedly caught in possession of some 300 ecstasy pills and an undisclosed amount of cocaine.
Mr Calleja was further charged with working as a bouncer without the required licence, being in possession of pepper spray, resisting and threatening three police officers, slightly injuring them during his arrest and disobeying their orders.
Before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, a sobbing Mr Calleja pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. He was granted bail against a €3,000 deposit and a €20,000 personal guarantee and ordered to sign the bail book daily.
He was also banned from approaching Paceville.
Police inspectors Jonathan Cassar and Malcolm Bondin prosecuted while lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri, Angie Muscat and Amadeus Cachia represented the accused.