After Colombians, Police deal blow to Nigerian cocaine trafficking ring

After dealing a blow to a Colombian-run crime ring which coordinated the importation and trafficking of cocaine, with arrests made around the St Julian's area over the past four days, police have dealt yet another blow to another criminal gang, after intercepting another kilogramme of cocaine and then work their way up to the mastermind.

Three Africans were separately arraigned today in connection with the latest sting involving some 15 plain clothes police officers and security services personnel, which coordinated a controlled delivery operation leading to the seizure of one kilogramme of cocaine in the hands of a Spaniard who had arrived in Malta and checked-in at a hotel to finalise the deal.

Paul Ugochukwu Offor, 37 from Nigeria and resident in Spain, was charged with conspiracy to import and traffic in cocaine. He was also charged with money laundering.

Later, police also charged another Nigerian, 31 year-old Kingsley Wilcox who lives in l-Iklin, and 35-year-old Charles Christopher Majimor from Sierra Leone, and resident in Marsascala.

Both holders of Maltese identity cards, and married to Maltese women, the two pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and money laundering.

All three were remanded in custody.

The court presided by Magistrate Miriam Hayman upheld a request made by the prosecution, lead by Inspectors Dennis Theuma and Herman Mula who requested that all financial and immoveable assets be seized.

Informed sources told MaltaToday that the investigations revealed that Offor had travelled to Malta specifically to collect the money which his Spanish accomplice had to be paid for the cocaine consignment. In fact, police discovered local bank account details which were to receive the funds and subsequently be transferred.

The investigations also led Police to discover a series of text messages between the traffickers and the buyers.

The sources also said that Police have also widened their investigations to Spain, where a number of people are being sought in connection with the trafficking operation.

More people are expected to be charged in connection with this investigation on Friday.

The operation follows another sting in St Julian's over the past days, where a Colombian run cocaine trafficking ring was dealt a severe blow, after two female drug mules were intercepted at the airport two weeks ago.

The investigation led to the arrest of a Colombian man residing in St. Julian's and two taxi drivers who were behind the serious trafficking in St Julian's.