Mark Pisani pleaded guilty to acting as intermediary in cannabis resin trafficking, possessing 979g of cannabis and BZP pills, securing a plea-bargained 4-year sentence.
Criminal Court · The Honourable Judge Dr. Consuelo Scerri Herrera, LL.D., Ph.D. · 7 May 2026
Mark Pisani was charged on four counts arising from events on 26 May 2009 and in the three months preceding that date. Police acting on a tip-off from the Drug Squad surveilled Pisani, watching him pick up Marco Farrugia in a Volkswagen Golf (registration OVR 600) in the Swieqi area. When police intervened and searched the vehicle, they found a basket on Pisani's side containing four blocks of cannabis resin weighing 979.40 grams at approximately 10% purity, intended to be sold to Farrugia at €900 per block. Farrugia was found carrying €545 and a separate €3,600 — the exact purchase price for all four blocks. In a sworn statement given before Inquiring Magistrate Dr Jacqueline Padovani on 28 May 2009, Pisani admitted his role as an intermediary between Jason Farrugia (known as 'Jason il-Balont'), who supplied the cannabis, and Marco Farrugia, the buyer. Pisani stood to earn €50 per block, passing the remainder to Jason il-Balont. He also admitted to a prior transaction a few months earlier in which he had brokered the sale of two cannabis blocks of approximately 250g each to Marco Farrugia at €800 per block — a deal that was completed without police intervention. In addition to the cannabis, four pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) — a controlled psychotropic substance — were found in the glove compartment of the vehicle. Pisani stated these were for personal use. The court expert Dr Godwin Sammut confirmed the drug identities and quantities, valuing the cannabis at €6,271.49 and the BZP pills at €38.40. On 24 April 2026, Pisani entered a guilty plea before the court in the presence of his defence lawyer Dr Shawn Zammit. The Attorney General and defence submitted a joint application under Article 453A(1) of the Criminal Code for a plea bargain. The court accepted the joint request, noting relevant Maltese and comparative jurisprudence on sentence discounts for guilty pleas, and imposed a negotiated sentence of four years effective imprisonment plus a €7,000 fine, along with confiscation of all assets and destruction of the seized drugs.
Mark Pisani found guilty on all four counts: (1) Association for cannabis trafficking; (2) Cannabis resin trafficking; (3) Possession of cannabis not for exclusive personal use; (4) Possession of a psychotropic medicine (BZP). Sentenced under plea bargain (Article 453A(1) Criminal Code) to 4 years effective imprisonment and a fine of €7,000 (payable within one year, convertible to imprisonment if unpaid). Ordered to pay expert costs of €2,364.96 (€549.66 to expert Joseph Mallia; €310.97 to PC 1525 Patrick Farrugia; €1,504.33 for public registry searches). Confiscation of all movable and immovable property ordered in favour of the Government of Malta. Seized drugs and related items ordered to be destroyed under the supervision of the Deputy Registrar and pharmacist Dr Godwin Sammut.
Dangerous Medicines Ordinance, Chapter 101 of the Laws of Malta (Arts. 2, 8, 22, 22A, 26, 28); Criminal Code, Chapter 9 (Arts. 17, 23, 23A, 23B, 23C, 453A(1), 533); Medical Profession Ordinance, Chapter 31 (Arts. 40A, 120A, 121A); Subsidiary Legislation 101.02 (Internal Control of Dangerous Drugs); Subsidiary Legislation 31.18 (Medicine Control Regulations)