A tip-off by the postal authorities led to the arrest of two men who on Thursday admitted in court to having imported drugs intended for their own personal use.

In separate arraignments, Glenn Andrew Scott Gorman, 46, from Naxxar and Aaron Pavia, 37, from Zebbug, pleaded guilty to the importation of cannabis grass in breach of legislation. Mr Gorman was also found in possession of some two sachets of cocaine.

Inspector Frank Anthony Tabone explained in court how there was a tip-off by Maltapost about parcels suspected to contain drugs, addressed to both accused.

Controlled deliveries at the addresses of the recipients led to the confirmation of the suspicions and the subsequent arrest of the men who cooperated fully with investigators and immediately declared that the drug had been intended for their own personal use.

Medical prescriptions issued in the Netherlands were found at the residence of one of the men. He declared in court that he needed cannabis as pain relief.

“I need it. It’s my medicine,” the man said, while his lawyer pointed out that the man had even registered an application to benefit from new medical cannabis legislation just recently passed by parliament.

“It was perhaps a matter of wrong timing,” lawyer Kathleen Calleja Grima observed.

In view of the circumstances of both cases, Magistrate Gabriella Vella declared the men guilty upon their admission and handed them each a 14-month jail term suspended for two years and a €500 fine payable within 3 months.

The court also ordered the confiscation and destruction of the drug.

Lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran was counsel to Mr Gorman.

Lawyer Kathleen Calleja Grima was counsel to Mr Pavia.