9,000 ecstasy pills seized at airport

Some 9,000 ecstasy pills were seized from a Turkish passenger at the airport yesterday in a successful operation planned by drug squad police. It is the largest haul of ecstasy in Malta.

The Turk had just arrived on an afternoon flight from Italy when he was stopped by policemen and officers of the Customs enforcement unit. The pills were found in a search of his luggage.

The police said the haul and the Turk's arrest followed weeks of investigation by the squad.

Duty Magistrate Lawrence Quintano appointed experts to assist him in an inquiry. Police investigations into the case continue.

In August of 2003, about 7,100 ecstasy pills, then a record, and three kilos of cocaine were found in the luggage of a British couple who had just arrived from Gatwick airport.

In April 2000, two Dutchmen were caught coming in at the airport with 4,377 pills and 460 LSD microdots.