€500 fine for cannabis-carrying tourist

An American holidaymaker’s trip to Malta got off to an expensive start when she was stopped by customs upon arrival in the country, and found to be carrying cannabis.

20-year-old Bebegol Lari was apprehended by police at the airport after customs officials found her to be carrying four grammes of cannabis.

The woman was not in possession of a local medical prescription for the drug, as required by law.

Lari was charged with importing cannabis for personal use and possession of cannabis, by Assistant Commissioner Dennis Theuma.

Lawyer Dustin Camilleri, legal aid to the accused, entered a plea of guilty. 

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, after taking into account the early guilty plea the woman’s cooperation with the police and the small amount of drugs involved, handed the woman a €500 fine.