Three of four men arrested in a drug raid on Monday have been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to their alleged involvement in a drug-trafficking racket.
Serbians Zvetco Zivkovic, a 37-year old plasterer and Celic Zvonko, 42, an embroiderer, were arraigned separately and accused of conspiracy to import ecstasy and possession and trafficking of cannabis within 100 metres of a place where young people habitually met.
Prosecuting Inspector Justine Grech explained how a police surveillance team had watched on Monday as the two Serbs met.
Mr Zivkovic had been carrying a box which was placed inside a vehicle that was parked in a garage. When the police zoomed in on site, the box yielded cannabis grass.
Other drugs were found after interrogation of the suspects. The total yield amounting to some 17 kilos
Mr Zivkovic made no request for bail, unlike Mr Zvonko whose request was, however, turned down.
“We are talking about an organised crime group. I have four people under arrest and 48 hours is not enough time (for investigations),” said the inspector, adding that more arrests could follow.
When making submissions on bail on behalf of Mr Zvonko, lawyer Giannella De Marco pointed out that her client ran a commercial activity in Malta where he has been residing for the past 16 years.
“He has three children in school here. Two of his children were born here. He has a clean criminal conduct. The seriousness of the charge in itself is not a reason for withholding bail,” argued the lawyer.
“We need some form of evidence that if granted bail he would tamper with evidence. There is no fear of him absconding, quite aside from the fact that the fear of him doing so is not enough.”
However, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli turned down the request for bail at this stage, issuing a freezing order upon all his assets, both movable and immovable.
The third man, Mark Cassar, a 40-year old Qormi resident, self-employed as a slush puppy vendor, was charged with having conspired to traffic cannabis grass, possession of the drug under circumstances denoting that it was not for his own personal use as well as with having committed these crimes within 100 metres of a place where young people habitually met.
Inspector Grech explained that the man had been spotted parking in Sliema and a box of 17kg cannabis was placed in the boot of his car. A joint was found on his person when he was arrested.
Lawyer Joe Giglio, defence counsel to Mr Cassar, told the court that he would not be making a request for bail at this stage but asked the court to recommend that the prosecution summon their witnesses as early as possible.
Lawyer Manuel Mallia was counsel to Mr Zivkovic.