A teenage Sicilian worker was fined €466 by a court today after pleading guilty to the importation of 0.7 grams of cannabis.

The incident happened yesterday when customs officials grew suspicious of the 19-year-old furniture worker from Ragusa, who arrived in Malta aboard the catamaran.

A search operation revealed a "crusher" containing traces of cannabis and a container containing brown pills which fuelled even greater suspicions. However, the latter proved to be a false alarm as they proved to be laxatives.

The teenager was arraigned this afternoon and charged with cannabis importation and possession. The sitting was closely followed by his apprehensive family who rushed to Malta as soon as they learnt he had been arrested.

Defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi argued that this should have been a case of simple possession for personal use, but for some reason the Attorney General advised the police to include the importation charge. He said that his client who had come to Malta for two days to dismantle a kitchen from a furniture showroom, was only pleading guilty as otherwise he would have to remain in Malta for the duration of proceedings.

The prosecution led by police inspector Justine Grech acknowledged that the amount of cannabis involved was minimal. She said that they were involved on the request of the customs department.

In its decision the court applied the minimum applicable penalty and fined the teenager €470 and a further €100 for court expenses to test the aforementioned pills.

“Next time you come to Malta be careful, as you have worried your parents to death,” Magistrate Depasquale warned the defendant.