A 27-year-old Gambian national has been charged with drug trafficking following coordinated police raids in St Paul’s Bay, Malta.
Ousman Manneh, from The Gambia, was arraigned on Wednesday before Magistrate Marsanne Farrugia alongside Lamin Keita, 34, a Malian national residing in St Paul’s Bay.
According to Maltese police, officers first carried out an operation in the Ta’ Fra Ben area on Tuesday, where they allegedly observed Manneh involved in a drug sale. He was immediately stopped and searched, and police said they found a substance suspected to be cannabis in his possession.
Further searches in the same location led to the discovery of a plastic bag hidden beneath pieces of wood and branches. The bag reportedly contained a number of sachets filled with the same suspected substance.
At the same time, police officers entered a residence on Xolfa Road in St Paul’s Bay, where Keita was arrested. Searches across several rooms in the property allegedly uncovered more sachets containing suspected cannabis.
In a statement, police said around 75 packets of the drug were seized across the two operations.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. The court issued freezing and attachment orders against the accused.
No request for bail was made, and the two were remanded in custody at the Corradino Correctional Facility pending further court proceedings.
The prosecution was led by Inspector Gabria Gatt together with lawyer Julian Scicluna on behalf of the Attorney General. The accused were assisted by legal aid lawyers Sarah Ciliberti and Axel Camilleri.
The case highlights ongoing drug enforcement operations in Malta, where several West African nationals have faced prosecution in recent years. Gambians living abroad continue to urge young migrants to stay clear of activities that could jeopardise their future and the country’s reputation.
