A fisherman and his friend yesterday admitted importing and conspiring to traffic in 18 kilograms of cannabis found on a fishing boat hidden inside a cooler bag on Sunday.

The two men are Keith Barbara, 30, from Vittoriosa, and his friend, Silvio Apap, 37, from Xagħjra. They also pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of the cannabis.

They were arrested in Marsaxlokk at 2am on Sunday morning, with sources saying the drug was found inside a cooler bag aboard the boat.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Mario Spiteri asked Magistrate Francesco Depasquale for a pre-sentencing report to be drawn up. The magistrate also ordered that their assets be frozen. Both were remanded in custody.

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