Two men were each fined nearly Lm4,000 and jailed for a week, suspended for six months, after they were found in possession of a considerable amount of contraband cigarettes.

Joseph Annati, 42, of Paola, and Joseph Mary Salerno, 46, of Zabbar, were found in possession of 50,000 cigarettes with a total value of Lm587 on which a total excise duty amounting to Lm2,216 and Value Added Tax amounting to Lm504 had not been paid.

Annati and Salerno admitted to the charges brought against them. Handing down judgement, magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said the accused admitted their involvement at an early stage of the criminal proceedings and cooperated with the police during the investigations.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera ordered the men to each pay a fine of Lm3,896.73. She also jailed them for one week suspended for six months.