Venezuelan man jailed for ten years over cocaine trafficking

Davide Castillo Rafael, holder of a Venezuelan passport, has been handed a 10-year effective jail term and a €25,000 fine for being involved in a drug-trafficking conspiracy, as well as for the importation and aggravated possession of cocaine back in November of 2016.

Rafael registered an admission before the Magistrates' Court last December after he had faced compilation proceedings relating to his crimes. 

A plea bargaining exercise between the prosecution and the defence resulted in the case going before the Criminal Court.

A court-appointed expert had indeed confirmed that the drug found in the possession of the accused amounted to 1115.06 grams of cocaine of 35% purity and with an estimated value of €75,824.

The court, presided over by Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera observed how the accused had an otherwise clean criminal record "with no trace of any contravention or crime" but condemned him to a 10-year jail term and a €25,000 fine. 

The accused was also ordered to pay €4,273.70 in court expenses and ordered the confiscation of the drug as well as of all property, movable and immovable, of the accused.