A man who stands charged with the possession and trafficking of cannabis and heroin was arrested after a number of people were seen going to his house to buy drugs.

In the compilation of evidence against Brian Joseph Mangion, 41, of Qormi, Police inspector Victor Aquilina told a court today that members of the Drug Squad had been following Mr Mangion’s movements and the activity around his house for a while.

Mr Mangion, who is also awaiting trial on another drug case, is pleading not guilty to the possession and trafficking charges and to relapsing.

Testifying before Magistrate Myriam Hayman, Insp. Aquilina said that on March 16, two people were seen going to Mr Mangion’s house.

When they left, the police followed them to Zurrieq where they stopped them and searched them. They were found in possession of 10 grammes of cannabis. One of them, known as il-kaiser, told the police that he bought the drugs from someone in Qormi.

On March 17, the police stopped another three people - Dillan Mallia, Leon Caruana and Clayton Schembri, who had been seen leaving Mr Mangion’s house. They had also bought the drugs from Mr Mangion.

The police then decided to search Mr Mangion’s residence where they found four bags of cannabis in the oven and cannabis resin in the microwave. They found heroin in his bedroom. They also found other drug related items.

The case continues.