A man who was arrested late on Wednesday after the discovery of 11 kilos of drugs died in Mater Dei Hospital this morning after a suicide attempt at the police headquarters.

The man, 39 from Zejtun, had been due to be arraigned this morning.

The drug - heroin and cocaine - was found in properties belonging to the man in Marsa and Zejtun.

Addressing a news conference, Police Commissioner Michael Cassar said the man was found with a sheet wrapped around his neck and tied to his cell’s barred window by a policeman doing the rounds at 3.05am.

The drugs found at the man's properties.

The man was alone in his cell. The police officer called for assistance, the prisoner was given first aid and CPR was performed. He was taken to hospital by ambulance but he was declared dead an hour later.

Mr Cassar said he gave an order for no officer to go near the cell and said the police would not be investigating the matter since the case involved procedures and internal policies.

Magistrate Charmaine Galea was informed of the case and ordered a magisterial inquiry which would also cover an investigation into the force’s internal procedures.

Mr Cassar said that although precautions were always taken and the force was always trying to improve matters, such incidents could still happen.

Although there are CCTV cameras in the corridors, there are none in cells.

Asked whether the police suspected foul play, Mr Cassar said it was up to the magisterial inquiry to determine that.

PN CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY

In a statement this afternoon, PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami called on the Home Affairs Minister to appoint an independent inquiry to establish all facts which led to the death.

He said the amount of drugs indicated that the police were in the process of breaking up a drug trafficking circle.

The people, he said, should have their mind at rest that the police work and investigations in their fight against drugs had not been prejudiced.