A man caught trying to smuggle a gram of heroin and a bottle of methadone into prison by hiding it in a van of cleaning supplies was yesterday jailed for 18 months.

David Scicluna, 29, of Santa Luċija, pleaded guilty to trafficking and possession of heroin.

He was arrested on Friday afternoon after his van was inspected when he arrived at Corradino Correctional Facility.

During the search, the authorities found the heroin and around 200ml of methadone, a prescribed non-addictive substitute for heroin, in the front part of the vehicle. Mr Scicluna used to supply prison with cleaning material around twice a week.

Standing in the dock with his head bowed and his family seated behind him, Mr Scicluna quietly admitted to the charges before Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of methadone in circumstances not for his personal use and trying to take a prohibited substance into prison.

When asked by the magistrate about his guilty plea, defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi said it was a serious case and “my client knows it”.

As she sentenced Mr Scicluna to 18 months’ imprisonment and fined him €1,000, the magistrate noted he had fully cooperated with the police.