Tunisian police issue arrest warrant for third Maltese national in drug bust

While Glen Paul Xuereb, 22 of San Gwann and Thomas Camilleri, 21 of Gzira remain in a Sousse prison awaiting trial for conspiracy to traffic and export drugs, MaltaToday is informed that a third warrant  has been issued for another Maltese, identified as 67 year-old Jean Muscat, who allegedly left Tunisia before the two youths were arrested.

According to Tunisian State Prosecutor Mohammed Lotfi Nabli, the three Maltese were part of a conspiracy to traffic drugs.

66 kilogrammes of cannabis, allegedly intended to be imported to Malta, were driven in a van by two Tunisian men from Gafsa to Sousse.

The Tunisians, identified as Habib Zairi and Mohammed Gasmi were arrested just moments after they had handed the bags containing drugs to a Libyan woman identified as Awatef Hamruni who was with another Libyan identified as Abderahhem Ben Othman.

The woman paid the Tunisians 5,200 Dinars and sent her accomplice to meet Glen Paul Xuereb at  Monastir Marina and who allegedly paid her 40,000 euros in cash for the cannabis.

While both Libyans managed to abscond Tunisia together with their two children and travel back to Tripoli after abandoning their empty car in the car part of Hotel Meriem in Sousse, the Maltese returned to the Meriem Hotel in Sousse to try the merchandise.

According to the arrest warrant, Glen Paul Xuereb and Thomas Camilleri tried the product by smoking some, and were arrested at dawn in their hotel room.

MaltaToday is informed that the Maltese police have received information from their Tunisian counterparts about Jean Muscat, who was also recently questioned by the Drug Squad. He was arrested and interrogated at least three times.

Sources say that Muscat had travelled to Tunisia with Glen Paul Xuereb a month before the bust.

Both youths have since been kept in a cell inside a Sousse prison are said to be fine and coping with prison life.

But their fate remains unknown as Tunisia has harsh and lengthy punishments for people convicted of drug trafficking .

Another Maltese, Tano Farrugia, a 30 year-old Msida football player was arrested in Tunisa last January and has since been kept in prison. He too still awaits judgement.