A 26-year-old Colombian woman has been arrested at Malta International Airport following a joint law enforcement operation targeting suspected international drug trafficking, the police said Monday.

The suspect was intercepted after arriving on a flight from Madrid last Saturday, following intelligence indicating her potential involvement in a organized drug smuggling network.

The operation was carried out by the Malta Police Force in close collaboration with the Customs Department, alongside Spanish and Colombian authorities.

Upon inspecting the passenger's luggage, officers uncovered two large blocks and a smaller package containing just over half a kilogram of a substance suspected to be ketamine, carrying an estimated street value exceeding €70,000.

Magistrate Dr. Renata Farrugia LL.D. was informed of the arrest and has launched a formal magisterial inquiry, appointing several court experts to assist in the investigation.

The suspect was held in police custody and is scheduled to be arraigned in court today at 10am before Magistrate Dr. Tanya Sammut LL.D.