10kgs of cannabis resin found hidden in car

Customs and police officers seized 10 kilogrammes of cannabis resin which they found hidden in a car on board a catamaran arriving from Sicily on Thursday night.

It is thought to be one of the biggest drug finds in Malta.

A 34-year-old Neapolitan man and a 23-year-old woman, both residing in Fgura, were arrested in connection with the haul and are expected to be charged with drug offences, probably today.

An American woman was also arrested and held for questioning after she was found in possession of a small amount of cannabis leaves in a search that followed the discovery of the drugs on the catamaran.

Sources close to Customs said the cannabis resin was found in various packets hidden under one of the seats of a Maltese-registered Peugeot car which had arrived from Pozzallo during the night.

The sources said that other cars and passengers were searched during the operation, which lasted throughout the night.

Events started unfolding at about 9.30 p.m. on Thursday when the Customs enforcement unit and the police anti-drug squad launched an intensive search on board the catamaran San Gwann moments after it berthed at the passenger terminal.

The police said the searches were carried out after they had received information about the possibility that drugs were to be imported into Malta.

They suspect that the cannabis resin was destined to be marketed in Malta.

Preliminary police investigations show it was not the first time that the persons found transporting the drugs had made similar trips.

The police said more cannabis resin was found later during the night in a search at the arrested couple's Fgura residence.

The American woman was arrested during this search, the police said.

Magistrate Dennis Montebello has appointed a team of court experts to help in an inquiry while the police anti-drug squad continues its investigations into the find.