The man accused of handling almost half a ton of cannabis had himself led the police to the place where the drug was hidden shortly after his arrest, a magistrate heard yesterday.

The police began surveilling three men - Serbs Jovica Kolakovic, 52, Tomas Mikalauskas, 28, and Kevin Sammut, 28, of Swieqi - after a tip off, Police Inspector Pierre Grech testified.

After officers watched them closely and noticed packages changing hands, which later turned out to be cannabis, Mr Sammut was arrested at his home. He immediately told the police about the large consignment he had hidden in two separate places.

He took them to a field in Victoria Gardens where in a hole they found 28 sacks containing about 430 kilograms of cannabis leaves and blocks of cannabis resin.

At the villa where he worked as a gardener, they found boxes full of cannabis leaves hidden behind a false wall, the inspector said.

On September 7, officers followed the two Serbs driving a rented silver Ford Ka and were also pursuing Mr Sammut in a white pick-up.

They drove to a chapel in Madliena and Mr Sammut alighted and placed a carton box in the boot of the Ford Ka, the officer said.

The following day, officers observed Mr Sammut drive to Villa Nina, in Fortizza Road, Madliena, and go inside.

He was followed by his 21-year-old brother, Jonathan, who arrived in another similar pick-up van.

Jonathan was spotted walking out and placing a carton box in the back of his brother's van.

It later resulted that the two were doing gardening work at the villa at the request of the elderly foreign owner who was not involved in drug dealing, the inspector testified.

That same afternoon, Mr Sammut met the Serbs about a block away from Green Grove Guesthouse in Swieqi and handed over another carton box. Some time later, officers also noticed Mr Mikalauskas opening the boot and taking a box into the guesthouse but they stopped him as he was coming out of the building.

In a search in room number nine the police found four boxes containing 14 to 15 kilogrammes of cannabis grass.

From there they went to Mr Sammut's residence and waited for him after phoning him to let him now they were at his house.

He helped the police to the point that he voluntarily led them to the much larger stash of drugs, the policed inspector said.

At this point, court proceedings were continued behind closed doors in view of evidence that could affect ongoing investigations.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for Mr Sammut.

Lawyer Joe Brincat appeared for the Serbs.