A number of people are being interrogated by the police and some will begin to be arraigned over the coming days, sources told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

They confirmed a claim made by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on Thursday at the PN Independence celebrations that this was a massive fraud, involving a number of people.

The contraband was taking place both on land and on sea, using yachts, and all kinds of boats.

This must have been going on for a very long time, sources said, and it must have cost the country huge sums in forfeited revenue.