Three South American drug couriers were yesterday jailed for a total of 25 years and fined €64,000 between them after they admitted to importing cocaine in unrelated cases.

The first, Enervina Lara Zepede, 42 from the Dominican Republic arrived on March 20 last year carrying about 370 grams of drugs in four capsules hidden inside her vagina.

She told the police she had met a man named Chris in Madrid who offered her the job of transporting to Malta the drugs that were 45 per cent pure and worth about €28,000.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia jailed her for seven years and fined her €18,000. Emilio Calderon, 29, born in the Dominican Republic but residing in Spain, was jailed for 10 years and fined €23,000 after he was caught carrying 100 capsules, containing a kilo of cocaine, in his stomach. He flew in from Madrid last November 24 carrying cocaine that was 38 per cent pure and worth about €75,000 at the time.

Brazilian Hiran Araujo, 27, pleaded guilty to importing 338 grams of cocaine, which was 38 per cent pure and worth between €24,000 and €35,000, when he arrived from Rome.

He too was carrying the drugs in his stomach and was jailed for eight years and fined €23,000.