The owner of a trailer used for carrying merchandise to and from Malta was this afternoon found guilty with eight votes against one of trafficking and conspiring to deal in six kilogrammes of cocaine.
Arnold Farrugia, 44 of Zebbug, was jailed 22 years and fined €50,000.
Six kilograms of cocaine had been found hidden in the refrigeration system of a container owned by Mr Farrugia back in 2005.
Assistant Police Commissioner Norbert Ciappara had told the court that the trailer arrived at Laboratory Wharf from Genoa, aboard the vessel Maltese Falcon.
Acting on confidential information, the police investigated Mr Farrugia’s trailer on suspicion that it contained drugs.
Nothing was found initially but packets containing drugs were eventually found in a side panel.