Two men who admitted to importing 18 kilos of cannabis resin aboard a fishing boat last summer were each jailed 16 years and fined €40,000.
Keith Barbara, 30, of Birgu and Silvio Apap, 37, of Xghajra admitted to importing the drugs aboard Mr Barbara’s boat Madonna Taż-Żejt in June last year. Police had found the drugs hidden in a cooler bag when they searched the boat while it was berthed in Marsaxlokk.
They also admitted to conspiring to deal in drugs and the possession of cannabis in circumstances denoting it was not for their personal use.
Mr Justice Michael Mallia, in the Criminal Court, took note of the amount of drugs and the guilty plea. He jailed both men and ordered the confiscation of the items used to carry out the crime.