A 29-year-old woman was remanded in custody on Sunday after police told a court how they had used a decoy package of cannabis in a sting operation.

Mandy Cassar, of Madliena, was charged with importing cannabis grass.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud, heard how the police had been tipped off about the alleged importation by Customs officials.

They had then replaced the package of 600 grams of cannabis with a decoy, and carried out what is known as a controlled delivery operation.

The accused was the person who received the package when MaltaPost delivered it at her residence.

Police Inspector Joseph Xerri, who appeared for the prosecution, told the court how, not only had Ms Cassar received the package, but she had also opened it, and handled the contents.

The package contained some 3,000 joints and therefore was not for the accused’s exclusive personal use, the prosecutor said. 

Defence lawyer Franco Debono did not contest the validity of the arrest, but told the court that denying the woman bail would see a person who was still presumed innocent behind bars. His client also had a clean criminal record, lived on the island, and had a job here.

Inspector Xerri, however, said that there were still a number of witnesses who still had to testify.

Magistrate Mifsud turned down the bail request.