Chris Grech, 28 of Qormi, goes before a jury today accused of conspiring to sell drugs and being in possession of cannabis resin in quantities which indicated it was not for personal use.

The case hinges on a fingerprint on a bar of cannabis allegedly discovered during a police raid in 2006 when 3.5 kilos of drugs were found in a sack.

The police had said they had been monitoring the movements of the accused and of another person.

On May 18, 2006 the accused was allegedly seen driving a red Peugeot and together with the other suspect had parked in Bahar ic-Caghaq, next to the Splash and Fun Park and hidden a sack containing the cannabis.

The two men allegedly returned to the site a few days later to retrieve the drugs. The police tried to stop them but they managed to escape. Mr Grech was arrested later, the police said.

The trial is to be presided by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono.