A 26-year-old man from Qormi was granted bail after he denied smuggling seven pump guns with ammunition rounds from Libya.

James Azzopardi, who is a crew member on the cargo ship  MV Saint Roch,
was arraigned under arrest this afternoon before Magistrate Josette Demicoli. The vessel operates between Malta and the Libyan ports of Tripoli and Misurata.

Mr Azzopardi was arrested on Wednesday afternoon while driving a car in Luqa, where he was found with four pump action shotguns (12 gauge) strapped to his torso and back.

He had just entered Malta from Libya on the ship through the Freeport. Subsequently, another three pump guns were found during a search on the MV Saint Roch.

Mr Azzopardi was also accused of not being in possession of a driving licence and of the illegal possession of firearms. He was charged with committing a crime during the term of a suspended sentence and the operative period of another sentence involving community work.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €8,000.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Angie Muscat, Michael Sciriha and Lucio Sciriha. Inspector Saviour Baldacchino prosecuted.