A 47-year-old Sicilian man, Fabio Nastasi, was extradited to Malta from Spain with the aid of a European Arrest Warrant. He faced charges related to the trafficking of 54 kilograms of cannabis.
Appearing before Magistrate Rachel Montebello, Nastasi pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to deal with, trafficking, and possessing the drugs with intent to sell before June 2023. The cannabis was valued at approximately €880,000. Legal representation for the accused was provided by lawyers Matthew Xuereb and José Herrara.
Police Inspector Mark Anthony Mercieca informed Magistrate Montebello that Sicilian Santo Arena was apprehended in June 2023 in connection with the discovery of roughly 54 kilograms of cannabis in St. Paul’s Bay. Nastasi was subsequently charged with trafficking and aggravated possession of the drugs.
During court proceedings, Santo Arena disclosed that Fabio Nastasi had paid him to conceal and store the drugs at his residence in St. Paul’s Bay. Following widespread media coverage, police received information that Nastasi had fled the country.
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