A gas rig worker yesterday denied importing 900 grammes of drugs in his hand luggage five years ago.

In a trial by Bench, Martin Spiteri, 35, of Żejtun, is also pleading not guilty to possessing the drugs in circumstances which denote it was not for his exclusive use.

Taking the witness stand, Police Inspector Dennis Theuma said the accused had arrived on a flight from Frankfurt with almost a kilogramme of amphetamine paste taped to the bottom of his hand luggage.

The drug amphetamine is also known by its street name speed and is a stimulant that people take to keep them awake and alert.

The officer said the accused first claimed it was a fertiliser but then said it was a lubricant used on the rig, which he wanted to give to a friend to keep his shot gun in good working order.

The paste was like plasticine, soft to the touch and dirty white. In fact investigations were suspended for a number of months until a proper analysis was carried out because the substance was so unusual, Inspector Thuema said.

The inspector said that, in the same luggage, Customs officers found a small amount of cannabis and, in a search conducted in his home, officers found cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.

Testifying, court expert Godwin Sammut said that the paste contained the controlled drug amphetamine and had a purity of five per cent. If made into pills while in a paste form one could produce 3,000. If one let the substance dry out, 1,000 pills could be produced.

Mr Sammut said that amphetamine could be purchased in the United Kingdom but was only available on prescription although he found a website where one could buy it from.

The trial continues.

Nadine Sant from the Attorney General's Office prosecuted.

Lawyers Joseph Giglio and Steve Tonna Lowell appeared for the accused.