Three men suspected of smuggling 870,000 contraband cigarettes granted bail.

Three men suspected of smuggling some 870,000 contraband cigarettes, who were arrested by the police in the Fekruna area last month, have been granted bail.

James Azzopardi and James Spiteri both from Qormi and Redeemer Camilleri from Marsa stand accused of the importation and possession of smuggled contraband cigarettes, as well as tax and duty evasion.

Azzopardi alone is accused of possessing an unregistered boat and of breaching bail conditions imposed on him last July.

This afternoon, Inspector Mark Mercieca from the Drug Squad testified about the events leading up to the arrests on November 8 when police, acting on a tip-off, had started covert surveillance of a boat which Azzopardi kept at a private compound at Hal Farrug.

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-12-06/local-news/Three-men-suspected-of-smuggling-870-000-contraband-cigarettes-granted-bail-6736200476