Four businessmen will be extradited to Italy following the discovery of about 18,000 kilos of contraband cigarettes.

The men, who cannot be named because the investigations are ongoing, face a maximum of eight years in prison and a fine of €230 million. Under Italian law, offenders would be fined for every gram of the smuggled substance.

After Magistrate Aaron Bugeja ordered the extradition, defence lawyers Joe Giglio, Steve Tonna Lowell and Franco Debono said they would file an appeal and in the meantime, their clients should be given bail as had been done when they were first arraigned.

Deputy Attorney General Donatella Frendo Dimech and lawyer Elaine Mercieca Rizzo argued against bail. The magistrate ordered that the four men be kept in custody until extradition.

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