Two alleged drug couriers were yesterday charged with importing almost a kilogramme of cocaine, which was stuffed in capsules and swallowed.

Latino-Americans, Josè Gomez, 22, and Frank Meija, 20, both from the Bronx, New York, aided by legal aid lawyer, Mark Mifsud Cutajar, pleaded not guilty to importing, conspiring to import and trafficking in the drug.

When giving their particulars to the court, Mr Gomez said he was a financial investigator for a hospital and Mr Meija said he was unemployed.

The police said on Wednesday two men had arrived on a direct flight from Amsterdam and X-ray investigations indicated drugs in their stomach. One was stopped at the airport and the other was apprehended a short time later at a hotel in Sliema.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera remanded both men in custody.

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