A Dutchman has been arrested by police after he was found in possession of substances believed to be cocaine and heroin which were worth a total of around €1.5 million.

Police said in a statement that they had been observing the man – a 42-year-old Dutch national – for months and that it was suspected that he was trafficking drugs into Malta and using a garage in Santa Venera as a base for his operations.

The police said that the man was on Wednesday followed and stopped in Qormi, where he was found to be in possession of five kilograms of what is thought to be cocaine, and four kilograms of what is thought to be heroin.

The drugs have a combined market value of around €1.5 million, the police said.

€380,000 in cash was also found at the garage in Santa Venera during a police search.

The man was charged in court on Wednesday itself before duty magistrate Elaine Mercieca where he was accused of importation, trafficking, and possession of drugs and also money laundering amongst others.

He was denied bail and remanded in custody.

Police inspectors Mark Mercieca and Justine Grech prosecuted.