Adelaide Zef Paja, Luce Marku on drug charges, allegedly tried to flee country to Hong Kong

An Adelaide man has wailed and cried in court after he and a woman allegedly tried to flee the country charged with multiple drug offences.

Luce Marku and Zef Paja have faced court over drug charges at a Royal Park home. Picture: Facebook,

A man and woman charged with drug offences have been extradited back to SA after they were caught in Melbourne allegedly trying to flee the country.

On Thursday, Zef Paja, 68, and Luce Marku, 59, appeared via video link in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court.

They were originally charged in June after allegedly cultivating more than 60 cannabis plants before their arrest.

Police said on Sunday, June 29, the pair were stopped at Melbourne International Airport allegedly about to board a plane to Hong Kong.

The pair, assisted by an Italian interpreter, made no applications for bail and were remanded in custody on all charges by Magistrate Aaron Almeida.

Zef Paja, 68, and Luce Marku, 59, allegedly tried to flee to Hong Kong. Picture: Facebook,

Ms Marku remained composed, but Mr Paja audibly wailed as he was returned to the Port Adelaide police station cells.

They are yet to enter a plea to one count each of cultivating a commercial quantity of a controlled plant, possessing large commercial quantity of controlled plant, possessing prescribed equipment, abstracting or diverting electricity from power system and breach of bail agreement.

Court documents released to the Advertiser reveal the man and woman from Royal Park were allegedly growing 61 cannabis plants inside a Royal Park property prior to their arrest on June 17.

They further allege the pair possessed prescribed equipment to grow the plants hydroponically.

They are next set to face court in October.

Originally published as Adelaide Zef Paja, Luce Marku on drug charges, allegedly tried to flee country to Hong Kong