Man charged over plot to import 19kg of khat into Malta

A 58-year-old man from Marsa has appeared in court charged with plotting to import and traffic 19 kilogrammes of khat into Malta. Deeg Cismann Barkhad, a Somali national, pleaded not guilty to the charges related to a plan to bring the drug into the country before 20 March [1].

The case unfolded after another man was caught at the airport with suitcases full of the drug. That man allegedly fled the airport but was later located by police. During questioning, he named Barkhad as the orchestrator of the scheme [1].

Barkhad, who lives with the accused at the same residence in Marsa, was the person who gave him instructions to bring the drug from Paris [1].

The accused has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court denied a request for bail, meaning Barkhad will remain in custody pending trial [1].

The prosecution case was led by lawyer Valentina Cassar from the Office of the Attorney General, with Police Inspector Francesco Mizzi also involved in the case. Barkhad is being represented by lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit [1].