A Marsa arrested on Tuesday in connection with large hauls of cocaine and cannabis and suspected of being part of a drug trafficking ring was remanded in custody on Wednesday after pleading not guilty to drug-related charges.

The 33-year old driver, whose name was banned from publication under court order, was arrested in Fgura by police acting on a tip-off about an alleged drug deal.

Officers found 142 capsules of cocaine inside a bag on the passenger seat of a car. The man co-operated with the police and led them to a Ħamrun garage, where they found 11.5kg of cannabis grass.

He was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to having conspired to traffic drugs, possession of cannabis grass and cocaine under circumstances indicating that the drugs were not for his own personal use and the procurement of cocaine.

Prosecuting Inspector Kevin Pulis told the court that investigations were still at a premature stage and strongly objected to the suspect being granted bail.

There was a risk he would tamper with evidence still being gathered by investigators, the inspector said.

Were he to be granted bail, further evidence would possibly not be brought to court, the prosecution argued.

Lawyer Martha Mifsud, acting as defence counsel, countered that her client was still presumed innocent and had co-operated with the police, supplying them with information.

After hearing submissions by both parties, magistrate Josette Demicoli rejected the bail request.

The court also issued a freezing order upon the man’s assets and ordered that his name be withheld, to safeguard the interests of a minor and to ensure ongoing investigations were not hindered.