An Italian tourist was fined €1,500 after pleading guilty to the importation of small amounts of cannabis resin and cocaine. Giuseppe Marcucci, 55, was arraigned this afternoon before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras.

The court heard that the drugs were found two days ago when the police raided the room of a Valletta guesthouse where he was residing and found 4g of cannabis resin and 3g of cocaine.

Police inspector Jeffrey Scicluna said that they had been called to investigate the man in the wake of reports that he was seen “defecating in bags”.

The accused, who refused legal aid, said he was unaware he was carrying the cocaine. He claimed he used it for medical purposes to treat his depression and mood swings and that he had inadvertently carried it with him all the way to Malta from his home in Milan.

During submissions, the prosecution said that the accused had cooperated with the police, and that there were no signs he intended to sell the drugs. The man who refused legal aid pleaded guilty to all charges and was slapped with a fine.

“I suppose my investment in Malta was paying the court fine,” he remarked.