Man detained after drugs found at Paola traffic stop

A 22-year-old man from Valletta was detained after police found drugs suspected to be cocaine, heroin and cannabis at a traffic stop in Paola.

Kyle Pace was arrested after police in Paola discovered suspected drugs hidden in his pants and car during a traffic stop. The court refused bail, citing fears of further crimes and tampering with evidence.

The defendant, 22-year-old Valletta resident Kyle Pace, was arrested following the discovery of several packages containing suspected cocaine and heroin, as well as packages of suspected cannabis.

The inspector recalled that on November 17, 2024, at around 15:30, during a traffic stop at Triq Giuseppe Garibaldi in Paola, police noticed a vehicle that reversed into the entrance to the field and stopped after its driver saw the officers.

While police teams immediately approached the vehicle, the driver informed the police that he did not have a license. Police searched the vehicle due to reasonable suspicion and found cash amounting to approximately 1,400 Euros, as well as two packages of suspected marijuana.

Later, when the police were about to search the man, the man took out two bags he had hidden in his trousers and threw them into a nearby water tank. These bags were immediately recovered by police and were found to contain multiple packages containing white and brown substances suspected to be cocaine and heroin.

The man was arrested at the scene and the total amount of substance found was recounted.

The defendant’s mother and girlfriend were also present at the hearing, causing both of them to become very emotional throughout the hearing.

The defense did not challenge the validity of the defendant’s arrest. The defendant did not admit his guilt and the defense requested that the defendant be released from custody.

The prosecution objected on the grounds that it was an aggravated form of drug possession, and it was stated that in case of guilt, the defendant would face a prison sentence that could not be postponed. There is currently an ongoing magistrates’ investigation and there are fears that the defendant will commit another offence. The prosecution expressed fears that evidence would be tampered with because it was so early in the case.

The prosecution also added that the defendant became unreliable after he threw two baggies, which he had hidden in his trousers, into a nearby water tank, containing several packages containing white and brown substances suspected to be cocaine and heroin.

The defense argued that there was an open judicial investigation. “The evidence has been preserved,” said lawyer Amadeus Cachia, and also said there was no doubt about the fear of tampering with evidence.

The court decided to freeze the defendant’s assets and rejected the defense’s request for bail. Therefore, the defendant was detained until the compilation of evidence in this case was completed.

This is an ongoing case.

Lawyer Amadeus Cachia appeared in place of the defendant.

The investigation was led by Lawyer Godwin Cini on behalf of the Attorney General and Inspector Kurt Farrugia on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.