Taipei  - A German national was arrested on charges of smuggling 2.4 kilograms of heroin into Taiwan from Thailand, police at the Taipei international airport said Monday.

Mario Schubat, 38, was arrested Sunday night at Taoyuan International Airport. He had travelled on a China Airlines flight from Bangkok.

Customs officers said they found the 2.4 kilograms of heroin powder in his luggage.

"He refused to say who gave him the heroin and to whom he was delivering the heroin, and refused to be questioned at night. So we will question him during the day," an airport police officer said over telephone.

In Taiwan, drug trafficking carries a possible death penalty. (dpa)