Two chefs and an unemployed man were remanded in custody yesterday after being charged over the seizure of almost two kilos of cannabis at an apartment in St Paul’s Bay.

George Cutajar, a 23-year-old pastry chef from the village, Stefan Asenov Ivanov, a 22-year-old Bulgarian, and Todd Robert Henderson-Drake, a 23-year-old chef from Manchester, denied the charges.

Following several weeks of monitoring, the Drug Squad raided an apartment in St Paul’s Bay where they found more than 1.3 kilos of cannabis resin, 440 grams of cannabis grass, 100 grams of cocaine, 10 ecstasy pills and 10 LSD doses.

The three were charged separately before Magistrate Miriam Hayman, who turned down requests for bail. They were remanded in custody.

She also ordered the freezing of all their assets, monies and moveable and immovable property, according to the Money Laundering Act.

Mr Henderson-Drake faces 14 charges, including breaching the conditions of a different case and relapsing.

All three were charged with conspiracy to deal in cannabis grass and resin, cannabis trafficking, and possession of cannabis found in circumstances denoting it was not for their personal use.

Mr Henderson-Drake was further charged with possession of cocaine, ecstasy and LSD found in circumstances denoting they were not for his personal use.

Luciano Busuttil and Gavin Gulia appeared for Mr Henderson-Drake, while Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared as legal aid for Mr Ivanov and Noella and Lucio Sciriha appeared for Mr Cutajar.