Fireworks in luggage lead to airport lounge evacuation

A magistrate yesterday heard how the arrivals lounge at the airport had to be evacuated for about an hour last summer when Customs officers found a considerable amount of fireworks in a woman's luggage.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard several witnesses testify in the case against Charmaine Zammit, of Sliema, who is pleading not guilty to the illegal possession of about 23 pyrotechnic items, defined as explosive material, at the airport on July 17, 2006.

Police Inspectors Sandro Zarb and Angelo Gafà, prosecuting, explained that Customs officers at the airport had found fireworks in the luggage of a passenger who had just landed in Malta aboard an Air Malta flight from Sofia/Istanbul.

The luggage was traced to belong to Ms Zammit's husband, Silvio, who, when questioned, said he did not know about the fireworks but later explained that his wife bought them for the children.

It is illegal to import fireworks without a licence because they are considered as explosive material, the prosecution said.

Magistrate Hayman was also told how, when the fireworks were spotted in the luggage, airport security evacuated the arrivals area for about an hour.