An American tourist landed on the wrong side of the law shortly after her arrival in Malta, ending up in police custody after being found in possession of unprescribed cannabis.

Lari Bebegol, a 20-year-old holiday maker from California, was arrested on Thursday and taken to court on Friday, pleading guilty to the possession of some four grams of cannabis grass.

The passenger was stopped by customs officials upon arrival at the Malta International Airport and found to be carrying the drug for which she had no local medical prescription as required by law.

Upon her arraignment, the woman pleaded guilty importing the drug for her own personal use as well as to cannabis possession, landing a €500 fine after the court, presided over by magistrate Audrey Demicoli, took note of the accused’s early guilty plea, the fact that she had cooperated with the police as well as the small quantity of drug involved.

Assistant Commissioner Dennis Theuma prosecuted.

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