Two Panamanians were yesterday charged with involvement in the importation of 11 kilograms of cocaine found hidden in the false bottom of a luggage last month.

The luggage belonged to two other Panamanians, allegedly drug mules, who claimed to have come to Malta to study English.

Iriceth Vanessa Carabia Araujom and Anays Cecile Gonzalez Estribi, both 21-year-old students who work in a fast food restaurant, appeared before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras late yesterday afternoon and pleaded not guilty.

The two women were charged with conspiring to import and deal in drugs and importing the cocaine. They were further charged with possession of cannabis.

Defence lawyer Joseph Mizzi said his clients were not requesting bail at this stage but sought a ban on the publication of their names as they feared repercussions. However, the court turned it down saying there were no legal grounds for such a ban. The magistrate upheld a request for their assets to be frozen.

Their arraignment follows that of two co-nationals on August 26. Lorena Vanessa Hernandez Munoz, 21, and Hector Antonio Montenegro Martinez, 20, pleaded not guilty to the importation of the cocaine on August 10.

During the compilation of evidence against the latter pair, the court heard Customs officers testify that white powder fell out of the bottom of the bag belonging to Mr Martinez when they slit it open with a knife.

The bag had contained clothes but airport officials became suspicious because of its weight even when it was emptied of its contents.

By the time Mr Martinez was arrested, Ms Munoz had already left the airport but she was tracked down to her hotel room, where the police allegedly found cocaine in the false bottom of her bag.

Mr Martinez and Ms Munoz told the court they had come to Malta to study English and carried confirmation letters from a leading language school. They are also being held in custody.

Police Inspector Jonathan Cassar prosecuted.