The police have still not established if 20 unmarked cars found locked in two Nissen huts last month are clean.

In all, 22 cars had been found accidentally in a raid made during enforcement action by the Government Property Division (GPD) late last month.

The raid formed part of a campaign launched by the GPD against the illegal encroachment of public land. Eviction notices had been posted on buildings taken over by squatters along the Victoria Lines, limits of Mġarr, and also near Tarġa Gap in Mosta. But when the Land Department officials entered the area to enforce their notices they were stunned to find the dusty cars locked up in two of the illegal Nissen huts in the area.

The owner was traced through the number plates of two of the vehicles (the only ones with plates) and was interrogated on suspicion that the cars may be stolen. But so far, police sources say, there is no conclusive evidence either way and investigations are still trying to establish the ownership of the vehicles.

The man is meanwhile insisting the cars are his.