Three people were remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to cocaine trafficking and handling suspected stolen goods following a police raid in San Ġwann, while a fourth suspect remains at large.
Ramon Abela, 51, Leandross Cutajar, 42, and Nicole Brignone, 23, were arraigned before Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace. Prosecutors accused the three of associating with others to traffic cocaine, and of supplying and possessing the drug. Abela and Cutajar were also charged with knowingly receiving stolen property. Abela faces a separate charge of heroin possession.
According to the prosecution, police executed an arrest and search warrant on 13 October at Abela’s registered residence after investigators saw several known drug users going to the door. Officers said they found traces of white powder inside the property, which led to his arrest.
The case widened from there. Police told the court that a search of an adjacent property uncovered Cutajar and Brignone, along with drug paraphernalia and various sums of cash. They also seized tools and luxury clothing, a considerable number of which are suspected to be stolen.
That matters because the court sitting was not about whether the suspicions looked untidy or serious; it was about whether the arrests stood and whether bail would be sought. The validity of the arrests was not contested. No request for bail was made. The three were remanded in custody.
The prosecution is being led by AG lawyer Nadia Ciappara together with Inspectors Mark Mercieca and Hannah Harmer. Searches for the fourth suspect, who police said fled across neighbouring rooftops, were still under way.
Gabriel Fenech 
Harvey Jr. 
Marcus Azzopardi