The police had closely watched a major drug transaction about to take place, following a tip-off, a court was told this morning.

Prosecuting officer Jason Grima and Police Inspector Dennis Theuma were testifying at the opening of the trial by jury of Andrea Zammit, 53, of Rabat, who stands accused of association to import and traffic 14 kilos of drugs in 2005.

Dr Grima said the police had received information about an Egyptian go-between who was meant to sell the drug which Mr Zammit allegedly imported.

In December 2005 the Egyptian man was seen picking up a box containing several bars of cannabis from outside a farm owned by Mr Zammit in order to sell it in Rabat. The accused was seen watching everything from behind a tree.

The Egyptian man was arrested as he was about to sell the drug and the police later conducted raids on Mr Zammit's property.

Inspector Theuma said that when the Egyptian was arrested at Saqqajja hill by the petrol station, several blocks of cannabis were found in the luggage boot of his car, and he told the police where they came from.

The man said the the drugs were given to him by Mr Zammit. A search was carried out at the farm at Tal-Virtu' and a sniffer dog discovered 59 blocks of cannabis under a mound of rubbish.

A number of rooms were also searched and embalmed protected birds were also found in two fridge freezers.

The inspector said the Egyptian man had claimed that he needed the money from the drug operation in order to pay for an operation which he father needed to undergo.

It had been agreed that he would sell the blocks for Mr Zammit for some €700 each and make a profit of €23 on each on block.

Mr Zammit was questioned but he chose not to answer and denied that he had been involved.

The trial continues.

It is being presided by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono.