Updated 3.50pm

The police have intercepted a quantity of suspected cannabis ready to be trafficked during a raid in a bar in Marsa yesterday evening.

The Rapid Intervention Unit, assisted by the Drug Squad, arrested four men: two Somalis, an Eritraean and a Maltese.

Two of the men have already been arraigned. Nasir Fuqle Warsame, 21, of Somali origin, was said to be residing at the Marsa Open Centre, while the 26-year old Eritrean by the name of Yemane Teklom Zerislase, who was meant to be living at the Marsa Open Centre, but actually admitted to residing “in a garage near the church in Rabat.”

The prosecution told the court how Mr Warsame had tried to hide a bag, later found to contain some 17 grams of cannabis, when RIU officers swooped down upon the men. A personal search of the suspect yielded another five pieces of cannabis.

Mr Zerislase was found to have 13 pieces of suspected cannabis weighing a total of some 12 grams.

Both men pleaded not guilty but bail was only requested on behalf of Mr Warsame, the defence counsel basing his argument on the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused.

However, the prosecution objected not only in view of the gravity of the offence but also because Mr Warsame had no fixed residence and no personal documents other than his refugee number.

The court, presided over by magistrate Charmaine Galea, turned down the request for bail upholding the prosecution’s line of argument and remanded both men in custody.

Inspector Justine Grech prosecuted and lawyer Martin Fenech was legal aid.

The two other men are helping the police with their investigations. Magistrate Aaron Bugeja is leading the inquiry.