'Espionage' could be the name of his latest production, but unfortunately it was an all too real accusation faced by actor Edward Mercieca on the final day of the Lifecycle challenge from Istanbul to Damascus, as he was taken into custody for allegedly taking secret photos of Syrian military installations.
The challenge for the cyclists last Tuesday was to ride the final 155 km from Homs southwards to Damascus. Weary but determined the riders set off for the finish line, stopping at checkpoints approximately every 50 kilometres.
However, at one particular checkpoint shortly after midday, three men including one in military gear demanded to see the group's cameras and then took issue with a photo of Mr Mercieca's that included a red, unmarked pick-up truck in the background.
"I had done nothing wrong so I assumed the matter would be dealt with quickly," Mr Mercieca said.
The soldiers instructed Mr Mercieca to wait five minutes while they showed the photo to their commanding officer, so Mario Scerri and the group's interpreter waited with him.
The rest of the group continued on their way to Damascus. Mr Mercieca and his companions were then taken to what they presumed was a military camp and told to wait for the commanding officer. Mr Mercieca says that the soldiers kept telling Mr Scerri and the interpreter they were free to go, but they insisted on staying.
At about 4.30 p.m. they were informed that they had to go and were driven back to the main road near to the checkpoint, leaving Mr Mercieca alone and unable to communicate with the authorities in Arabic.
Then to his shock, still unsure why he was being held, he was taken on a pick-up truck with two armed guards to Damascus, about 100 km away, and driven to what he presumed was a military building. Here, he was allowed to walk around freely until a soldier turned up at about 6.30 p.m. and allowed him to use his mobile phone.
He contacted his fellow Lifecycle participants and was informed that they were trying to secure his release through the Maltese Consulate in Allepo.
But this was not the end of his mystery tour. Mr Mercieca was driven to a heavily guarded military building elsewhere in the city and his passport and ID card were confiscated. Here he was interrogated twice in different offices, before being taken to a mid-ranking officer who told him impassively, "welcome to Syria".
He was then driven to another building where the uniformed men carried handcuffs and where he saw what looked like a prisoner dressing himself.
"I thought I was going to jail," Mr Mercieca said. Instead he was taken up three flights of stairs to an English interpreter, who gave him the opportunity to vent his frustration.
"My major worry was that my wife hadn't been contacted as I had called her every day and knew she would be concerned. I was also concerned I would miss my flight as we were due to fly home the next day."
Thankfully, the Maltese Consul arrived at about 10.30 p.m. with a high ranking officer and secured his release. It was only when Mr Mercieca left with the Consul that he discovered exactly what he had been accused of. The army had informed the Interior Ministry that he rode into the mountains and took photos of military installations.
"It was unbelievable. There were no photos on the camera of anything off the main road," he said.
Nevertheless, he could laugh about his experience later when he met up with his fellow participants in a bar and shared a few drinks, not least because the interpreter in his final place of captivity told him on his release to "promise you will come back to Syria".
Mr Mercieca is not planning to return any time soon.
Donations to the Lifecycle challenge in aid of the Mater Dei renal unit can be made by calling 5004 9065 for €10; 5004 9060 for €20; or by sending a text message to 5061 9229 for €11.65.