A 51-year-old man from Sliema was found in possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances during a search at the oil bus terminus in Floriana at 7.20am, the police said. The man has been arrested.

They said in a statement that Valletta district police were anonymously informed that a man was selling pills outside a kiosk at the terminus.

On identifying the suspect, the police searched the man who was carrying two bags and found the nine millimetre weapon, 25 blank rounds and two casings.

They also found a substantial number prescription pills which are currently being examined by an expert appointed by the magistrate carrying out an inquiry.

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