Arrested at airport over heroin find

A Libyan national has been arrested at the airport after allegedly trying to smuggle in just over one-and-a-half kilos of heroin.

The Customs Department said yesterday the 32-year-old Libyan, Khaled Elhadi Elbizanti, arrived in Malta on a scheduled flight from Libya at about 7 p.m. on Thursday.

As passengers' documents were being checked by passport officials it was decided that the man should not be allowed in as he did not have the necessary entry documentation.

Before being transferred to the departures hall he had to go through the normal Customs procedures, the Customs said. But when his luggage was being examined, a Customs official noted that his case may have looked a bit heavier than it ought to be, so it was X-rayed at the arrivals hall.

Officials suspected the case may have a false bottom and so they took it apart and a black plastic package containing brown dust was found glued to the bottom.

Tests revealed the dust to be heroin, Customs said.

The man was handed over to members of the police drug squad, who are investigating.

The Customs Department praised its vigilant official for his part in the drug find.