A 30-year-old man from Xaghra, Gozo, has been arrested after being found in possession of 300 grams of a substance, allegedly cocaine, with a market value exceeding €30,000.

Police said that the man was arrested on Thursday while police were carrying out inspections in Triq ix-Xatt, Ghajnsielem, at 3pm.

The man, who was disembarking from the ferry in Mgarr Harbour, started acting suspiciously when he spotted the police. They then approached him and in a search carried out on him, the police found a plastic packet surrounded by brown tape containing a white substance, suspected to be cocaine in a pouch which was tied to his waist,

Police said that the man was immediately arrested, and taken to the police station for interrogation, after which he was taken to the police lock-up, in Victoria, Gozo.

Magistrate Dr Brigitte Sultana was informed of the case and appointed a Magisterial Inquiry.

On Friday afternoon, the man was arraigned under arrest in the Gozo Court before Magistrate Dr Simone Grech, where he was charged with drug possession and trafficking.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, however he was remanded in preventive custody at the Corradino Correctional Facility.

Police investigations are ongoing.

File photo

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