Two men were remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to conspiring to import and deal in 130 kilogramme of cannabis grass found in a garage in in Żejtun.

The men were apprehended following weeks of surveillance by the police who were acting on a tip-off. The drugs were found packed in luggage.

Jerome Azzopardi, 21, and Jonathan Cassar, 34, both from Cospicua, were charged with conspiring to import drugs into Malta and with the aggravated possession of cannabis grass.

Mr Cassar alone was on Saturday further charged with being a relapser.

Police inspector Jonathan Cassar told Magistrate Charmaine Galea that the two were caught following a tip-off that they could have been involved in drug trafficking.

He said the police were still investigating the case as it was convinced that the haul was part of a bigger organised crime activity.

Mr Azzopardi’s request for bail was turned down while Mr Cassar did not request to be released on bail at this stage.

The court, however, upheld a request by the police to freeze the men’s assets.
Lawyer Roberto Montalto appeared for Mr Azzopardi while lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Amadeus Cachia appeared for Mr Cassar.

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