Sunday, May 11, 2008
Aweys Maani Khayre, 31, of Somalian nationality has been remanded in custody after he was apprehended on Saturday at the Malta International Airport where he was trying to smuggle 10 kilograms of khat leaves into Malta.
The man pleaded not guilty to charges of importation and possession of the drugs cathinone and cathine with the intent to traffic.
Lawyer Martin Fenech said that his client had sincerely believed that the khat leaves were legal in Malta since in Somalia they are a traditional and legal item of entertainment.
Magistrate Padovani said that this argument did not hold in the local contest and had no option but to reprimand the man in custody.
Source: Malta Media, May 11, 2008