Two taxi drivers yesterday denied any involvement in an alleged drug trafficking ring that centres around a Colombian man living on the island.

Mario Mifsud, 42, from Luqa and Etienne Ciantar, 29, from San Ġwann pleaded not guilty to conspiring and importing cocaine and money laundering over the past two years.

They were remanded in custody. The Colombian man, Wilder Lopez Garcia, 35, is in custody pending criminal proceedings that began on Tuesday.

The police are alleging that Mr Mifsud and Mr Ciantar were involved in importing and selling the drugs.

Police Inspector Malcolm Bondin testified on Tuesday that two drug couriers – Olga Lucia Rativa Restrepo from Colombia and Sandra Castano from Spain, both 38 – said that Mr Garcia employed them to bring cocaine from Spain hidden in their private parts. He promised them €1,000 each, the women told the police.

The case continues.