Cap. 226 Art. 5Actionwithrespect to vessel within Maltese waters.

(1) Subject to the provisions of subarticle (2), any maritime enforcement officer on board a relevant vessel or craft may, within the internal or territorial waters of Malta, take appropriate action with respect to any vessel, other than a foreign military vessel or a ship owned by a foreign state used only for non-commercial service, whether flying the Maltese or any other flag or not flying any flag, reasonably suspected of having on board any person reasonably suspected of being about to commit or of having committed any offence against any of the laws of Malta.

(a) the consequences of the offence extend to Malta; or

(b) the offence is such as to disturb the peace of Malta or the good order of the territorial waters; or

(c) the assistance of the Maltese authorities has been requested by the master of the vessel or by a diplomatic agent or consular officer of the flag State of the vessel; or

(d) appropriate action is necessary for the suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs or pyschotropic substances.

(3) The provisions of subarticle (2) shall not affect the right of any maritime enforcement officer on board any relevant vessel or craft to take any steps authorised by Maltese law for the purpose of an arrest or investigation on board a foreign vessel passing through the territorial waters of Malta after leaving Maltese internal waters.