Three people were arrested after police found 162 packets containing a substance suspected to be synthetic drugs during targeted patrols in areas of Marsa known for drug dealing and use, police said in a statement on Wednesday.

Police said officers were carrying out patrols on Tuesday when they noticed a woman acting suspiciously in Triq Diċembru 13 and approached her.

While officers were speaking to her, the woman appeared to try to conceal something beneath a bandage around her leg.

A search was subsequently carried out, during which police found 21 packets containing a substance suspected to be synthetic drugs in her possession.

The woman, a 25-year-old Marsa resident, was arrested.

Police then accompanied the woman to her residence in Triq il-Ġerrejja to conduct a search.

Upon arriving, officers noticed several people inside the property and entered, arresting another two people - a 32-year-old woman from Cospicua and a 34-year-old Nigerian man residing in Qrendi.

During a search of the man's bag, police found another 141 packets containing a substance suspected to be synthetic drugs, as well as two mobile phones.

A further search was subsequently carried out at the man's residence in Qrendi, where police found four mobile phones and three pills suspected to be ecstasy.

All three people were taken to Police Headquarters in Floriana for further investigation.