A magistrate's court this morning began to hear evidence related to a drug operation which last Sunday led to the arrest of a Belgian couple and two Maltese taxi drivers allegedly involved in the trafficking of some 10kg of cocaine. 

Upon their arraignment last Tuesday, Belgian nationals Carine Rose-Marijke Donckers, 51, and Johnny Jos Haest, 46, had admitted their involvement in the racket and were remanded in custody. Their suspected conspirators had however pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody pending criminal proceedings which started today.

Jason Mamo, 37, from Bkara, and Mario Vella, 41, from Safi, sat side by side in the dock as the court heard various members from the Drug Squad testify about the events which had ultimately led to the arrest.

A coordinated surveillance operation started on Sunday at around 4pm when the police followed a Seat Ibiza which arrived on a ferry from Pozzallo. The Belgian couple on board were followed to the hotel in St Julian's where they were staying. 

In the evening, policemen outside the hotel observed the couple as they left on foot and made their way to a nearby restaurant in Bay Street where they had dinner.

At 10.45pm the Belgian man returned from dinner, off  closethen left the hotel again, unaccompanied. A taxi droff closeto the St Julian's tunnels.

The taxi, driven by Mario Vella, was stopped by the police in the vicinity of Mater Dei hospital. Suspicious white blocks were found in a haversack that was lying behind the passenger seat. A similar bag was later discovered inside the couple's hotel room.

The taxi driver strongly denied any knowledge of the contents of the bag, insisting that he had been asked by a fellow driver, Jason Mamo, to collect a passenger from a hotel in St Julian's. It was that man who had left the bag in the car.  

Just then, Mr Vella’s phone had begun to ring indicating that the caller was ‘Jason Mamo’s mother.’

The police arrested Mr Vella, while Mr Mamo was taken into custody shortly from his house in Birkirkara. The Belgian couple were arrested separately.

Inspector Frank Anthony Tabone, assisting in the prosecution, explained how following their arrest the Belgian couple had said that the mastermind behind the drug ring was a person in Belgium who had paid them €10,000 to make a delivery of 5kg of cocaine to a man in Malta. This first consignment had allegedly taken place last April.

At the time the couple had travelled from Catania and stayed at a Mellieha hotel. Mr Haest had allegedly handed over the drugs to Jason Mamo whom he had met in Pembroke. 

The second delivery, involving some 10kg of cocaine, was to take place last Sunday and the couple once again expected to pocket €10,000 for their role. 

During interrogation, Mr Haest had identified both the accused from photos shown by the police. His Belgian partner, although admitting knowledge of all the goings on, was unable to identify the accused since she had never personally met them. 

While under questioning, Mr Vella had persistently denied knowledge of the drugs. He told the police that he was just a taxi driver who had been asked by a fellow cab driver to collect a passenger and proceed to Birkirkara after dropping off the man. Had he known of all that was going on he would never have done this, the accused had allegedly insisted with the police.

Inspectors Frank Anthony Tabone and Kevin Pulis prosecuted.

Lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran was counsel to Jason Mamo, while lawyer Giannella DeMarco was counsel to Mario Vella.

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