Watch: Four Arrested And Charged For Trafficking 10-Kilos Of Cannabis
Four Romanian nationals residing in Malta have been remanded in custody after being charged with trafficking 10 kilograms of cannabis. Stelica State, 44, Ion Palade, 36, Claudiu Dangeanu, 40, and Petronela Chiriac, 34, were arraigned in court accused of conspiracy to sell or traffic cannabis, as well as possession of the drug.
Claudiu Dangeanu faced an additional charge for possessing an unauthorised new psychoactive substance and was identified as a repeat offender.
The prosecution revealed that on 8th March, police received intelligence on a Romanian drug trafficking network operating across Europe, including Malta. One of the individuals involved, Petronela Chiriac, was confirmed to be residing in Malta.
Claudiu Dangeanu and Ion Palade had recently arrived in the country and were frequently seen using a vehicle linked to Petronela, who lived on Triq il-Pietà. The police stated that both men regularly visited a specific apartment and spent most of their time there.
Two days before the arrests, Stelica State arrived in Malta from Sicily via catamaran, driving an Audi. He later joined the other three individuals, prompting the police to intensify their surveillance. Investigators then secured a search warrant for the apartment, where they discovered four large black bags containing drugs. These bags held a total of 73 packets of cannabis, weighing approximately 10 kilograms.
Petronela was arrested inside the apartment, which was reportedly rented in her name. Stelica and Ion were later apprehended as well.
Meanwhile, Claudiu was arrested separately at a hotel in Gżira, where he had spent the previous night. However, police noted that in the days leading up to the arrest, he had been staying in the same apartment as the others.
The prosecution stated that statements were taken from the accused, and a search of their vehicle uncovered hidden compartments, along with traces of cannabis.
Appearing before Magistrate Marsanne Farrugia, all four pleaded not guilty.
Their defence team, led by lawyers Franco Debono, Adreana Zammit, and Martina Herrera, did not submit a request for bail. The court ordered that they remain in custody and approved the prosecution’s request to freeze their assets and prohibit the transfer of their properties.