A Libyan national tried to import 24, 000 tablets of Anabol also known as Dianabol or methandrostenolone into Malta. Anabolic steroids are considered “restricted medicines” in Malta.  Even though Maltese officials recommend that foreigners carry a doctor’s prescription for prescription pharmaceuticals such as steroids, Malta effectively allows foreigners to bring anabolic steroids into the country for personal use:

Maltese law does not specify what should happen when a foreigner wants to import medicines for his own personal use.

However, if the Maltese courts determine the quantity of anabolic steroids constitutes commercial quantities, then steroid distribution charges apply.

The Maltese case reveals some of the creative methods steroid smugglers use to import anabolic steroids. The 24,000 Anabol tablets were concealed within 24 cans of chickpeas, which were resealed and repackaged.