A refugee caught smuggling 16 kilos of shisha tobacco from Italy was today given a six-month suspended sentence and fined €1,655.

Saediya Edris, 26, was yesterday detained by customs official at Malta International Airport after arriving from Fiumicino in Rome.

Though the substance is not illegal, the Ethiopian-born woman who enjoys subsidiary protection by the Italian government, did not declare the 64-pack consignment, and passed through the nothing to declare exit.

The court, presided by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, heard that the estimated value of the consignment was €320, on which the excise duty due to the customs department amounted to €552. The woman was also accused of not paying €157 in VAT.

Ms Edris admitted all charges and was ordered to pay the fine within six months, of which €552 were due to the Customs Department, the rest to the court.

Police inspector Raymond Aquilina prosecuted. Lawyer Jason Grima was legal counsel.  

 

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