A woman from Brazil was arrested at the Malta International Airport after she was found to be carrying drugs in her stomach and other parts of her body, the police said Tuesday.

The woman, aged 22, was arrested on Sunday at 11am upon her arrival on a flight from Barcelona, Spain.

Officers noticed the woman behaving suspiciously and, upon seeing them approach, she tried to escape.

She was caught and an x-ray uncovered that she was carrying drugs.

She was taken to Mater Dei Hospital where it resulted that she had one kilogrammes of cocaine, worth €130,000.

The woman, Tainara Dernandes Da Silva, today was charged in court with carrying 66 capsules of cocaine in her stomach and genital area.

During a sitting presided over by Magistrate Noel Bartolo, the Court heard how police officers were carrying out inspections on passengers on the flight. They noticed the woman acting suspiciously, and as soon as she noticed the presence of the police, she tried to escape but was immediately caught. 

Da Silva pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her, and her lawyer did not request bail. She was remanded in custody.

The prosecution was led by Inspector Jonathan Pace together with Lawyer Nadia Ciappara on behalf of the Attorney General.