Malaysian Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Cannabis Smuggling in Malta

Conviction and Sentencing

A 34-year-old Malaysian man, identified as Hew Jun Hui, was sentenced on December 5, 2025, to 19 years' imprisonment after admitting to importing nearly 24 kilograms of cannabis into Malta. The illicit drugs, with an estimated street value of €263,065, were brought through Malta International Airport. In addition to the prison term, Hui was ordered to pay a fine of €35,000 and cover €7,865.33 in expert witness fees. The Criminal Court also mandated the confiscation of all his money, movable, and immovable property in favour of the Maltese government.

Details of the Arrest

The case dates back to March 17, 2025, when customs officials at Malta International Airport became suspicious of Hui's luggage, which had arrived from Dubai. A customs sniffer dog marked two pieces of luggage, prompting further inspection. Inspector Anthony Scerri, a customs official, observed Hui collecting the bags from the carousel, leading to his immediate arrest.

Investigation and Charges

Upon examination, the luggage was found to contain 28 separate packages of organic material. Expert Dr. Gilbert Mercieca confirmed the substance to be cannabis grass, weighing a total of 23.915 kilograms, with a cannabinoid percentage of 20-21%. Hui initially claimed he did not have keys for the locked luggage and stated the bags were given to him by a friend. Police forced the locks, discovering 19 bags of cannabis in a large suitcase and nine additional bags in his hand luggage. He was subsequently charged with four offenses: importing dangerous drugs, conspiring with others to traffic cannabis, trafficking the cannabis plant, and possessing cannabis in circumstances indicating it was not for personal use.

Plea Bargain and Court Proceedings

Hew Jun Hui was arraigned before Magistrate Victor Axiak the day after his arrest. While he initially pleaded not guilty, he later changed his plea to guilty during proceedings before the Magistrates' Court on October 27, 2025. The sentence, delivered by Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera, was the result of a plea bargain agreement reached with the Attorney General. Inspector Jonathan Pace, who led the investigation, presented evidence highlighting Hui's suspicious behavior during customs checks, which led to the use of sniffer dogs.