A Libyan man was yesterday charged over his involvement in the importation of half a kilogramme of heroin by a transsexual on Monday.

Mahmed Amber Mahmoud Ali, 47, was caught by police after they staked out the hotel where the drug mule, Ruben dos Santos Crisostomo, 28, from Portugal, was staying.

They arrested the Libyan as he went to the Portuguese man’s room, the court heard. He had about €2,000 in cash.

He had already been jailed before for trafficking in drugs in 2007 and lives in Libya.

Mr dos Santos Crisostomo had arrived on a flight from Turkey with 45 capsules of heroin. He was charged in court on Tuesday and admitted to importing the drug.

Mr Mahmoud Ali told police that he had turned up at the hotel to give Mr dos Santos Crisostomo food.

Police Inspectors Nicolai Sant and Dennis Theuma said the case was very serious and requested that Mr Mahmoud Ali be kept in prison for the duration of the proceedings since he had no ties to the island.

Defence lawyer Joe Mifsud said he did in fact have a residence in Safi and family members on the island and this merited the granting of bail, especially since there was no evidence to prove he was involved.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera remanded him in custody.