Two men and a woman charged after kilo of ‘Audi’ cocaine found in car

Three people have been charged in connection with a large cocaine bust carried out on Friday.

Keith Micallef, 28, from Valletta, Naswan Morat Abdikadir Mohammed, 29, from Libya and Shaian Bakoush, 21, from Valletta were charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, aggravated possession of the drug and related charges.

Naswan was additionally charged with dangerous driving, criminal damage and failing to stop after being involved in a traffic accident. He was also charged with breaching two suspended sentences and bail. The court was asked to seize the man’s €8,300 bail guarantee.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded in custody.

They were arrested after police received information about a vehicle in Marsa suspected of carrying cocaine. Officers surrounded the vehicle, which belonged to Naswan, but the car’s driver shifted into reverse in a bid to escape, damaging a police car, before he was stopped.

Inside the car, a block of suspected cocaine was found, sporting an Audi logo stamped on the brick.

Bakoush and Micallef were arrested at the scene, while Naswan fled on foot, only to be apprehended by the police later, the court was told.

Police investigations are ongoing. Magistrate Victor Axiaq presided. Inspector Anthony Scerri prosecuted. Lawyer Raisa Colombo appeared for Micallef, while lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Amadeus Cachia appeared for the other two accused.