A couple from Marsa have been placed under a bill of indictment over the possession and trafficking of more than 200 grams of heroin.

Marco Belli, 32, and Michelle Vella, 30, were last week granted bail against a €500 deposit each and a €5,000 guarantee each after they pleaded not guilty to conspiring to traffic heroin and possession of the drug in circumstances which showed it was not for their exclusive use.

Ms Vella was also accused of importing the drug.

Two Libyan men, Bashir Ali Mohammed Esgayeir, 32 and Nabil Farhat Kouja, 33, were also accused of trafficking and importing the drug.

They pleaded guilty and were remanded in custody.

Police Inspector Johann Fenech told the court that on June 3, the police stopped an Audi A4 in Marsa. 21 capsules containing heroin were found in a suitcase on the back seat.

The police searched the residence of the of Mr Belli and Ms Vella and during the search, Mr Belli voluntarily passed to the investigators two small packets of heroin. The police also seized laptops and mobile phone from the Libyan nationals.

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