Judge Natasha Galea Sciberras sentenced Leo Galea, a 48-year-old man from Mosta, to eight years in prison after he admitted trafficking 14.5 kilograms of cannabis resin instead of standing trial.[1] The prosecution and the defence had agreed that sentence, and a fine of 15,000 euros, if he admitted the charges.[1] The judge accepted the agreement and also ordered him to pay 2,327 euros in court expenses.[1] Analysis found a purity of about 16 percent and an estimated value of 328,000 euros.[1]
TVM says that on 11 April 2019 Galea was seen driving in Birkirkara and handing a bag to the driver of another car.[1] Police pursued that man and stopped him, but did not find the bag.[1] The bag was found in the area and held cannabis resin.[1] Police followed Galea and stopped him between Mġarr and Mosta.[1] A raid on his farm found several bags containing a considerable amount of cannabis.[1] He had been due to stand trial for trafficking and for associating with others to traffic drugs.[1]
Times of Malta reported the arraignment that followed those stops.[2] James Micallef, then 25 and from Birkirkara, was found with about five kilograms of cannabis resin, which police said he had just collected from another man.[2] At a farmhouse in the limits of Mosta, police arrested Leo Galea, then 40, with about 10 kilograms of cannabis resin and two unlicensed revolvers.[2] Both men pleaded not guilty before magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, who refused bail and froze their assets.[2] Galea was also charged with keeping the revolvers without a licence.[2]
TVM published a photograph of resin slabs in clear wrapping with the sentence report.[1]
