On Sunday afternoon, a 45-year-old Nigerian national was charged for associating himself with drug trafficking, importation and aggravated cocaine possession.
The man pleaded not guilty to the accusations brought against him.
Magistrate Silvio Meli presided.
In a statement the police said that the Police Anti-Drugs Squad together with the Customs Enforcement Unit started their investigations late on Friday night at Malta International Airport, after it was established that a Nigerian was likely to be importing drugs to Malta. Consequently, passengers who had just arrived in Malta from Brussels, including the Nigerian, were searched which resulted as negative.
However, since it was being suspected that the man could be carrying the drug capsules in his stomach, the Nigerian was taken to hospital for an x-ray. He was found to have several capsules with drugs in his stomach.
Duty Magistrate Dr Giovanni Grixti had been informed of the findings and several experts had been appointed to assist in the inquiry.
Further police investigations are underway.
