A woman who imported almost 5000 ecstasy pills hidden in a teddy bear soft toy was jailed for 12 years today.

Rita Bugeja, 52 of Qormi, admitted to having imported the drugs in April 2006. She was also fined €23,500.

The woman had jumped bail and escaped to the UK, but was re-arrested and extradited to Malta.

The court was told that she met a man in the UK and had agreed to import the pills. She was then to await instructions on what to do with them. But she was arrested as soon as she arrived in Malta.

In a separate case. Mario Abdilla was jailed for 15 years after admitting to association to import 9,618 ecstasy pills in September 2006. He was also fined €25,000.

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