Charged with smuggling 48kg of tobacco

A man arrested for carrying 48kg of undeclared shisha tobacco has been released on bail.

Al-Abbar Baraa Mohammed al Maamun, 31, from Syria, appeared before duty Magistrate Aaron Bugeja this afternoon, charged with evading around €5000 in taxes and duties due on the tobacco.

He was arrested after customs discovered the stash upon his arrival via catamaran from Sicily on Christmas Eve.

Lawyer Jason Grima entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

Bail was granted against a personal guarantee of €20,000. 

Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee prosecuted.