A Maltese man was arrested in Pozzallo, Sicily, after nearly 18 kilogrammes of marijuana were found in a car, Italian news agency Ansa reports.

The car, with a Maltese number plate, was about to be driven onto a ship on its way to Malta.

In it, 143 packets containing 17.74kg of the drug were found.

The Maltese man, aged 40, was arrested and taken to Ragusa for questioning.

The drug and the car were confiscated, Ansa reports.

Photo: Ansa