The convicted drug trafficker dubbed by a judge as the “queen of prison”, Josette Bickle, died of heart failure, an autopsy has revealed.

However, more tests, including toxicological tests, are expected to be carried out to determine whether she could have died after ingesting some substance.

The autopsy concluded that Ms Bickle suffered pulmonary embolism, which is basically a blockage of the main artery in the lungs.

This blockage put pressure on the right ventricle of the heart, which failed.

Medical sources said Ms Bickle’s symptoms, which included difficulty breathing, chest pain and palpitation, all pointed topulmonary embolism.

The 41-year-old convicted drug trafficker died on Wednesday morning after being taken ill from her prison cell.

Ms Bickle, originally of Valletta, had been serving a 12-year sentence after being convicted of drug trafficking inside prison.

Sources said Ms Bickle was taken ill in her cell and rang the buzzer for assistance at around 6.30am.

Ms Bickle told the prison warder she was suffering from severe shortness of breath.

The warder immediately called for the prison nurse, who called an ambulance to take her to hospital, where she died shortly after her arrival.

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