A young man was found to be hiding cocaine in his mouth after he refused to utter a single word to the police when they were searching him and his car for drugs.

Police officers had stopped 24-year-old Pierre Camilleri in Pembroke on February 24, 2006, after being alerted by an informer.

When they searched his car, however, they failed to find any drugs.

They only realised there was something in his mouth after they became suspicious when he refused to speak to them during interrogation, a court heard. He was in fact concealing a sachet containing 2.5 grammes of cocaine.

Police Inspector Pierre Grech charged him with possession of the drug in circumstances which denoted it was not for his exclusive use and with relapsing.

In considering the evidence, Magistrate Lawrence Quintano, said there was nothing to prove that there were larger quantities of drugs involved.

The evidence was simply hearsay and could not be taken into consideration. The court could therefore only find him guilty of possession of the small amount without the intent to deal in the drug.

As regards relapsing, the prosecution produced a judgment fining him Lm30 in 2004 and so the court found him guilty of that charge.

After taking into consideration the two charges and the small quantity of the drug involved, the court conditionally discharged him for three years.

Police Inspector Pierre Grech prosecuted.

Lawyer Franco Debono appeared for Mr Camilleri.