A police superintendent tested positive for cocaine after taking a drugs test, MaltaToday reported.

Answering questions on the case from The Malta Independent, the police said that a Police Superintendent had been suspended and that proceedings against him had been launched before the Public Service Commission.

MaltaToday named the person as Superintendent Maurice Curmi, saying that it is understood to have failed the test which was administered at the police HQ.

The newspaper said that this result has a high chance of him being dismissed and that he was suspended.

Curmi told Times of Malta that he intends to contest the test result and the suspension.

He said a test performed before the one that resulted positive, and on taken immediately after both resulted negative. Curmi said he had always carried out his police duties "with utmost dedication and commitment".