Two American men who imported almost a kilogramme of cocaine in their stomachs in July 2010 have been jailed for eight years and fined €23,000.

Jose Gomez, 22, and Frank Meija, 20, both from the Bronx in New York admitted to the charges of drug importation and trafficking instead of standing trial by jury.

The two men had agreed with a certain Elizabeth Lora to import drugs from Costa Rica. They flew to Costa Rica from the United States and then on to Mexico and  Amsterdam from where they came to Malta. The were arrested at the airport.

Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano took into consideration that the men each carried 445 grams of drugs with a purity level of 45 and 39 per cent each. He also considered the plea bargain reached between the accused.