AFM Drugs Heist Suspect And Father Charged With Extortion Over Jeweller Dispute

Carlos Pace, the 23-year-old man accused of involvement in the Armed Forces of Malta drugs heist earlier this year, returned to court on Friday alongside his father Keith Pace, 45, in connection with a new case — this time facing charges of extortion.

The father and son were accused of using threats and coercion against a jeweller in an attempt to recover gold they claimed had been stolen from their Marsa home. The prosecution alleges the pair engaged in extortion, harassment, improper use of electronic equipment and, in Keith Pace’s case, threatening a police inspector.

Both men denied the charges.

Carlos Pace was among 12 people arrested in February after 226kg of cannabis resin was stolen from the AFM’s Safi barracks in what became known as the “drugs heist.” He is currently out on bail pending those proceedings. His father Keith made headlines at the time after he admitted to insulting and threatening journalists outside court during his son’s arraignment.

The latest case emerged after Pace filed a police report alleging gold had been stolen from his residence. In court, defence lawyer Franco Debono pressed Inspector John Sammut to confirm whether police were aware the Paces had information suggesting the stolen gold ended up with the jeweller. Sammut confirmed this, adding that Keith allegedly threatened the jeweller, warning him that he knew where he lived and would “make him pay”.

The court heard that the report of stolen gold is subject to a separate inquiry being led by police inspector Francesca Calleja. There has been no concrete outcome from the inquiry so far.

Debono insisted the incident was not a case of extortion but an attempt by the men to recover what they believed was their stolen property.

The prosecution, led by Inspector Sammut and inspector Roderick Attard, objected to the bail. Attard pointed to the father and son’s “voluminous” criminal records, describing them as having a refractory character. He said it would be easy for the men to trace the alleged victim and highlighted that the jeweller was “genuinely afraid” of them.

He added that while Carlos had cooperated fully with investigators, Keith had not.

Debono countered that the court should consider the specific circumstances of the case, noting the Paces’ claim that their actions stemmed from frustration over inaction on their stolen gold report.

Magistrate Nadia-Helena Vella ultimately denied bail, ruling that the men’s background and the risks posed outweighed the defence’s arguments. Both Keith and Carlos Pace were remanded in custody.

The Paces are no strangers to controversy. Keith Pace is separately facing charges over a 2023 altercation in which he allegedly bit a man’s nose during a fight in Ħamrun. In the past, he has also been charged with threatening a correctional officer and fined in relation to stolen bank cards in the 1990s.

Friday’s sitting ended with the court confirming the new charges and remanding both father and son in custody. The arraignment was presided over by Magistrate Vella.

Police inspectors Roderick Attard and John Sammut prosecuted the case. Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Adreana Zammit appeared for the accused.