A Nigerian woman who allegedly imported three kilograms of cocaine and a Maltese man who accepted the package during a controlled delivery were today arraigned separately in court.

Rachael Fred, 29, who lives in Italy, was arrested on her arrival in Malta on the Catamaran from Pozzallo on Saturday night after three kilograms of a substance believed to be cocaine was found in a false bottom in her suitcase.

Before Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia, Ms Fred denied the charges brought against her. No request for bail was made and she was remanded in custody.

The court heard how the police organised a controlled delivery to ascertain who was the person who was accepting the consignment.

This led the police to arrest 35-year-old Christopher Polidano, from Safi, who also denied the charges brought against him.

When the police tried to stop the man, he entered a car and tried to escape by driving on the pavement, hitting several parked cars in the process. He stopped after crashing into an electricity pole. He appeared in court sporting several facial injuries, including a black eye.

His arraignment took longer than expected because defence counsel Franco Debono noted that an order from the Attorney General's office to prosecute Mr Polidano contained the wrong law.

When this was pointed out in court, with Dr Debono requesting his client's immediate release as the proceedings were null, Magistrate Farrugia gave Police Inspector Gabriel Micallef some time to consult the AG's office. When the sitting continued, Inspector Micallef walked in with the correct document, admitting the mistake.

Mr Polidano was granted bail against a deposit of €10,000 and a €20,000 personal guarantee.