Cocaine was found in the false bottoms of baggage carried by two Panamanian drug mules who came to Malta to study English, the court heard yesterday.

The case concerns Lorena Vanessa Hernandez Munoz, 21, and Hector Antonio Montenegro Martinez, 20, who are denying the importation of more than 11 kilograms of cocaine on August 10. The couple are in custody.

During the compilation of evidence customs officials testified they became suspicious when the bag was still heavy despite being emptied of its contents.

When they slit open the bottom of the bag belonging to Mr Martinez with a knife, white powder was discovered.

They testified that Mr Martinez had two confirmation letters from the EF language school, one of which belonged to Ms Munoz.

She was a passenger on the same flight from Amsterdam but had already left the airport.

Ms Munoz was tracked down to her hotel room at the Villa Rosa beach garden. While there, the police found cocaine in the false bottom of her bag.

Police Inspectors Jonathan Cassar and Nikolai Sant are prosecuting. Lawyer Abigail Bugeja is acting as legal aid.

The case continues.