A Czech woman who smuggled drugs into Malta twice before being caught importing almost a kilogram of cocaine in July 2013, was yesterday jailed for eight years after she pleaded guilty to avoid a trial by jury.

Lucie Azuka, 24, admitted to importing the cocaine with a total street value of nearly €60,000. The capsules were found in her stomach and hidden in her underwear.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia heard that Ms Azuka had been intercepted at Malta International Airport on her arrival on a flight from Spain on July 13, 2013. Drug Squad police were informed by customs officers that a passenger who had just arrived on a Ryanair flight from Madrid was found to be carrying capsules inside a condom hidden in her underwear.

Further medical examinations revealed more capsules hidden in her stomach. The police found a total of 73 capsules containing 902 grams of cocaine.

The police investigation revealed that the woman had reached an agreement to import the drug into Malta and hand it over to two men, a Maltese and a Nigerian, on her arrival. They were also arrested.

The police also found out that the woman had twice before imported drugs into Malta and was paid considerable sums for her involvement.

Mr Justice Mallia accepted the plea bargain agreement between the prosecution and defence and condemned her to eight years in jail and a €20,000 fine, which if not paid immediately would be converted into an extra 12 months in jail.