A jury has begun hearing submissions in the trial of two men accused of smuggling nearly 20 kilogrammes of cannabis resin into Malta on a speedboat six years ago.

Godfrey Gambin, 40, from Iklin was arrested in July 2010 together with Libyans Adel Mohammed Babani, 51 and Nabeil Ibrahim Saleh, 44 after police had found the cannabis resin in the men's possession, shortly after the speedboat arrived in Xemxija.

Police, who are understood to have set up a surveillance operation after receiving a tip off, stopped the men's cars in Xemxija. As the police were about to stop the vehicles which Mr Gambin and Mr Babani had been driving, the men were seen throwing bags out the windows which were later found to contain several large blocks of cannabis resin.

The drugs, having a purity of 9.2 per cent, are thought to have had a street value of over €124,400, the prosecution said.

In her opening submissions, prosecutor Giannella Camilleri Busuttil explained that Mr Saleh had entered Malta illegally, having made prior arrangements with the men to pick up the drugs at Xemxija bay.

The men are charged with conspiracy to import the 19.4 kg of cannabis resin, importing the drug and aggravated possession of cannabis in amounts which denoted that it was not for their personal consumption.

Mr Gambin is also charged with simple possession of cannabis grass and simple possession of cannabis resin.

Mr Saleh, who was granted bail in 2012 after spending 22 months in preventive custody, is believed to have absconded to Libya.

Lawyers Giannella Camilleri Busuttil and Nadia Attard from the Office of the Attorney General are prosecuting. Lawyers Alfred Abela, Franco Debono and Mario Mifsud are appearing for Mr Gambin, while lawyer Malcolm Mifsud is defending Mr Babani.

Madame Justice Edwina Grima is presiding.