A 63-year-old Spanish pensioner was detained in Malta, after landing at the airport on a flight from Lisbon, Portugal, with two suitcases full of cannabis. Francisco Javier Martin Diaz, a pensioner from Huelva, Spain, was detained by Maltese customs officers after they found around 21 kilograms of cannabis in two suitcases.
The unusual event occurred at the beginning of this month and is especially important, because the flight departed from Lisbon, but the contents were only discovered after landing on the island of Malta. Francisco Diaz managed to overcome all security systems at Lisbon airport and carried around 21 kg of cannabis on the plane. Upon landing in Malta, he vehemently denied the accusations of drug trafficking during his appearance before magistrate Kevan Azzopardi.
Inspector Mark Anthony Mercieca informed the court that police intervention was requested by customs officers at Malta International Airport, who, after routine inspections of passengers arriving from Lisbon, discovered the illicit shipment in Diaz’s belongings. Surprisingly, Lisbon authorities did not detect the cargo during security procedures.
Diaz, assisted by a Spanish-language interpreter during his interrogation and appearance in court, faces charges of conspiracy to import cannabis resin, importation of cannabis and aggravated possession of the drug, indicating that it was not intended exclusively for personal use.
Defense lawyer Mark Zammit Cutajar informed the court that a declaration of innocence is being prepared for submission soon. No request for bail was submitted, with Diaz being held in pre-trial detention until the investigation into what happened is concluded.
