Updated | Three arrested in two separate police drug busts, one admits to charges

A fisher arrested on Tuesday night after police stopped his car in Fgura has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.

Rosmar Bugeja, 24, was arraigned before Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo by Inspector Mark Anthony Mercieca, accused of supplying cocaine and cannabis, as well as possession of cocaine and cannabis in circumstances denoting they were not for personal use.

Bugeja was at around 8:30pm after police stopped his car in Fgura and discovered more than 20 sachets containing cocaine and others containing cannabis. The drugs were hidden in three wallets. The police also discovered €250 in cash.

Source: CMRU

Two other men, aged 19 and 21 were also arrested and are in police custody pending investigation. The arrests were made after a long-term police surveillance operation, Inspector Mercieca told the court.

Bugeja pleaded guilty to the charges, reiterating his admission of guilt when given an opportunity by the court to retract it.

The punishment he could expect was between six months to 10 years in prison for the offences, warned the court.

Lawyer Josette Sultana, appearing as legal aid to the accused, said that the man’s cooperation with the police and early admission should be taken into consideration.

The court put the case off for sentencing on 14 September, so that a board of experts could establish whether Bugeja has a drug problem. 

Bail was granted against a deposit of €400 and a personal guarantee of €7,000.

Earlier the police had said that the second arrest was made after a search of the same street where Bugeja was stopped led them to two men who were acting suspiciously. Police said they approached the individuals and subsequently due to their behaviour searched their vehicle leading to the discovery of several sachets suspected to be cannabis.

The men aged 19 and 21 are currently being held at police lock-up in Floriana.