Passenger intercepted with half a kilo of heroin in shoes

Officials from the Customs Enforcement Unit found just under half a kilo of heroin on a passenger arriving from Tripoli.

The 39-year-old man of Libyan nationality was on flight KM697 which arrived in Malta just before midnight on Sunday.

He was stopped as he was going through the green (nothing to declare) channel.

On scrutinising his luggage documents, the Customs officer noticed some discrepancies but found nothing in his luggage or bags.

However, the officer persevered with the search and pierced the man's shoes, finding some brown powder inside. The powder was later identified as heroin.

The heroin was contained in two sachets that were placed under the sole of each shoe.

While the shoes were being examined, the passenger fled barefoot from the examination room but was apprehended shortly afterwards.

The police were immediately informed and Inspector Nezren Grixti is leading the police investigations.