A Belgian man was arrested and charged after he was found to have €30,000-worth of cocaine in his stomach when he flew into Malta.

Police said that the man, who is 40 years old, was arrested on Friday when he arrived in Malta on a flight from Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

He was stopped on suspicion of being in possession of drugs, and after he was taken to Mater Dei Hospital, it was found that he had 20 capsules of drugs, totalling 300 grams, hidden in his stomach.

Police said that the drugs had a street value of around €30,000.

The man was charged before Magistrate Rachel Montebello, where he pleaded guilty.

His sentence will be handed down by the courts in due course.