A foreign couple and two Maltese men were today remanded in custody following their arraignment over drug-related charges after the Malta police last Sunday evening managed to break up a suspected drug trafficking ring which allegedly had been ongoing for months.
Belgian nationals Carine Rose-Marijke Donckers, 51, self-employed, and Johnny Jos Haest, 46, employed in a manufacturing business together with his wife, were arraigned jointly and both pleaded guilty to a string of drug-related charges revolving around the conspiracy to import and supply cocaine and cannabis grass.
They were also charged with having produced, sold or otherwise dealt with cannabis as well as with having been found in possession of both drugs.
After having been duly warned by the court of the consequences of their admission, the couple both confirmed their guilty plea. “I helped the police all the way through and I know what I did wrong,” declared the man.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, issued a freezing order over all the assets of the couple in Malta.
In view of the fact that the woman was suffering from a medical condition, she solicited the prison director to ensure that she received all necessary attention while in detention.
In another two separate arraignments, the Maltese men arrested in the same drug operation were likewise remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to the charges of conspiring to traffic cocaine and cannabis.
Jason Mamo, 37, from Birkirkara, and Mario Vella, 41, from Safi, both taxi drivers, were also charged with possession of the drugs. No request for bail was made at this stage.
The arrests were reportedly made last Sunday evening following a surveillance operation by officers from the drugs squad who spotted the Belgian couple hand over a bag to Mr Vella. The couple had travelled to Malta from Belgium and arrived on the catamaran from Sicily. Some 10kg of the suspected drugs were seized in the operation. Investigations led to the arrests.
The court, whileremanding both men in custody, issued freezing orders over all their assets, both movable and immovable, warning them that they could not dispose of any property. “You cannot touch anything, not even one cent,” warned the magistrate.
The proceedings against all four of the accused are scheduled to commence before another magistrate later this week.
Inspectors Kevin Pulis and Frank Anthony Tabone prosecuted.Lawyer Victor Bugeja was counsel to the Belgian couple. Lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran was counsel to Jason Mamo, while lawyer Giannella DeMarco was counsel to Mario Vella.