Police said the seizure followed an operation involving the Malta Police Force and the Customs Department, with assistance from Spanish and Colombian authorities. According to the police account, information gathered indicated the woman was travelling from Spain to Malta and was suspected of being involved in a criminal drug trafficking network.
That allegation is broader than what has so far been publicly set out. What police say they found is more specific: after inspections on passengers arriving on a flight from Madrid, officers identified the woman and allegedly discovered two large blocks and a smaller packet containing the suspected drug inside her luggage.
Police estimated the street value of the substance at just over €70,000. That gives a sense of scale, although it remains an official estimate, and the substance itself is still being described as suspected ketamine.
The woman remains in police custody while investigations continue. Magistrate Renata Farrugia has opened an inquiry and appointed several experts to assist.
She is expected to be arraigned before Magistrate Tanya Sammut.
Ryan C 
Dua Mifsud 
Harvey Jr.