A Sicilian man who was on bail over a massive six-kilogramme haul of cannabis in 2014 was brought back to Malta on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Maltese police.
Rosario Caruso, 44, appeared under arrest before magistrate Doreen Clarke charged with having skipped bail and fleeing abroad.
Police inspector Nikolai Sant explained that Mr Caruso had been arrested in Tenerife, after having absconded from Malta while on bail for drug trafficking charges.
He was facing criminal proceedings after being apprehended at the airport with more than six kilogrammes of cannabis in 2014.
Mr Caruso was escorted back to Malta on Thursday night after Spanish police traced him to his Tenerife residence.
Lawyers Giannella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared for the man.
Mr Caruso will now appear before magistrate Neville Camilleri on Tuesday for the case against him to continue.