A 40-year-old man from Guinea Bassau, who was caught with 52 capsules of heroin in his stomach, yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charges of possession and importing heroin.

Djalo Sadjuma, who has a Portuguese passport, pleaded not guilty, before magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, to the charges of importing and possessing heroin in circumstances that show that it was not for his exclusive use.

Mr Sadjuma also pleaded not guilty to conspiring with other people to traffic heroin in Malta.

The Portuguese national was stopped at Malta International Airport on Friday afternoon after he arrived on a flight from Milan. A preliminary search did not yield anything, however the police escorted him to Mater Dei hospital where he was found to have 52 capsules of heroin, amounting to around 500 grammes, in his stomach.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera remanded Sadjuma in custody.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara prosecuted while Dr Mark Busuttil acted as legal aid for the accused.