Drug mule’s Libyan associate remanded in custody

Mahmed Amber Mahmud Ali, 47, from Libya and who in 2007 was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment over trafficking of marijuana, was today arraigned in court accused with association in trafficking of half a kilo of heroin to Malta and relapsing.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how the Libyan was apprehended when he called at a hotel in Sliema, allegedly to deliver food to a Portuguese transsexual drug mule who was later found carrying the drugs in his stomach.

The police found around €2,000 in possession of the accused.

The court upheld the request of the prosecution to have the accused's assets frozen.

Mahmud pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

The defense held that the prosecution had no proof that the accused

was involved in drug trafficking, however the prosecution held that the Portuguese drug courier who was arraigned in court yesterday had mentioned the Libyan in his statements.

The Portuguese man was charged with drug trafficking, admitted to the charges and was remanded in custody.

The prosecution objected to the Libyan being granted bail on the basis that he has no fixed residence in Malta. The court denied the accused bail and he was remanded in custody.

Inspectors Dennis Theuma and Nikolai Sant prosecuted.