Woman jailed 15 years for smuggling drugs in corset

A Malaysian woman was yesterday jailed for 15 years and fined €70,000 after she admitted to importing drugs in March 2008.

Noor Faizura Azura Binti Md Lias, 30, was arrested at the airport after arriving on a flight from Madrid. When searched, she was found wearing a corset containing 1.12 kilos of cocaine with a total street value of between €60,000 and €106,000.

Ms Lias also admitted making similar flights to Malta on previous occasions and carrying between €15,000 and €30,000, derived from the drugs, from Malta to Spain.

She was meant to stand trial by jury but yesterday filed a guilty plea and admitted to importing, conspiring to traffic and money laundering.

Before passing sentence, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono took into consideration the fact that she had admitted to the charges at an early stage even though she was caught red-handed and had no other option.

He also considered the large amount of drugs involved, its high purity, the fact that she had acted purely for financial gain and that it was her third time.