Maltese national arrested in Milan over 5kgs of 'horse tranquiliser' ketamine

A 38 year-old Maltese national has been arrested by the Italian police in connection with a haul of 5 kilogrammes of Ketamine, a veterinary anaesthetic normally used on horses but has also been developed for abuse during rave parties.

24 June 2010, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

1 min read

According to reports, Attard was arrested at Milan's Malpensa airport following investigations into the seizure of some 5 kilogrammes of Ketamine in the hands of an alleged Italian accomplice, identified as 49 year-old pharmaceutical salesman Bartolomeo Sarzotti.

Keith Attard who apparently arrived in Italy for "business" was identified by Sarzotti as the person who sent him the ketamine by post.

The investigations - codenamed 'Operazione Special Ket' - were focused on the city of Cuneo near Turin, where Attard and Sarzotti - according to Magistrates Domenico Manzione and Francesca di Naro - allegedly ran an organisation that trafficked ketamine between Malta and Italy.

MaltaToday is informed that Sarzotti was caught red-handed with the drug as he delivered it to a nightclub owner, who in fact was an infiltrated police officer.

During interrogations, Sarzotti reportedly alleged that Keith Attard was his accomplice.

Maltese lawyers have been alerted on Attard’s arrest and are set to travel to Turin tomorrow, where the Maltese man is being held in prison.

Ketamine is considered as a serious drug in Italy and has been listed as a dangerous psychotropic substance for the last four years.