Update 4 - Bail refused - A security officer at Malta Freeport, a customs officer and a stevedore have been taken to court and accused of a €1 million contraband cigarettes operation. 

Details of the operation were given this evening by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia.

He said the cigarettes were brought to Malta in a container which was meant to be on transshipment, but it was somehow released from the freeport, and then returned empty.

The value of the consignment is €1 million including taxes.

Dr Mallia said the authorities were not excluding that similar cases happened in the past.

Economic Affairs Minister Chris Cardona said this case showed government resolve to clamp down on corruption, adding that other cases involving public entities are expected to be revealed shortly.

ARRAIGNMENTS

The accused are Rokku (Rocky) Agius, 53 of Zebbug who is a stevedore, Michael Sciberras, 39 of Valletta, an assistant security officer at the freeport, and Billy Grech, 44 of Zejtun, a senior Customs officer. They were accused of having stolen a container at Malta Freeport and abusing of their authority.

Sciberras and Grech were accused of having abused of their authority as employees of Malta Freeport and Customs and of having had in their possession 450 boxes of contraband cigarettes, with each box containing 10,000 Empire Royals cigarettes.

All three pleaded not guilty.

The consignment was brought to Malta on board the CMA Verdi on February 2.

Police Inspector Rennie Stivala prosecuted. Lawyers Giannella de Marco appeared for Mr Agius, Veronique Dalli for Mr Sciberras and Paul Lia for Mr Grech.

A request for bail was refused after the prosecution expressed fears of contamination of evidence.