The arrest was made after the police stopped a cat in Buġibba that was filled with sachets of suspected cocaine and heroin that looked to have been packaged to be trafficked.

Pierre was driving the car while Montebello was a passenger.

The police went on to search a residence in Mosta where Owen was found. In the home, some 700 grams of suspected heroin, a Les Baer pistol, bullets, and other drug-related paraphernalia were also discovered.

All three men were charged with heroin possession not intended for their personal use, unlicensed possession of a firearm and recidivism.

Pierre and Montebello were also charged with cocaine possession, while the former was separately charged with breaching previous bail conditions.

All three pleaded not guilty and defence lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit objected to Montebello’s arrest, arguing that it did not adequately satisfy the requirements stipulated by the law.

They argued that the police did not obtain a warrant for arrest for Montebello. Officials also allegedly failed to inform Montebello of the reason for his arrest, this was evident from police body cam footage, going against the standards outlined in the criminal code.

Magistrate Rachel Montebello ruled in favour of the defence and declared that by virtue of not disclosing the reasons for the arrest, then Montebello’s arrest must be declared illegitimate. She ordered his immediate release.

The defence also requested bail for Owen, saying that the police is yet to prove whom the heroin belonged to. His criminal recors was clean, apart drom some traffic fines, and the young man agreed to live at a separate address with this mother.

The prosecution objected to bail due to the nature of the crime and because Owen was also charged with recidivism.

Nonetheless, he was granted bail gainst a deposit of € 2,000 and a personal guarantee of €10,000. He was also ordered to observe a curfew and not approach civilian witnesses.

A bail request for Pierre Cremona was rejected by the court mainly due to his criminal record.

Inspector Jonathan Pace prosecuted.

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