The Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court in Blantyre registry has sentenced two Brazilian women to four and a half years in prison for being found in possession of dangerous drugs and importing drugs without permit.

The two have been identified as Maria Freire, 32, and Estefani Moraes De Lacerda, 31.

The women took the Ethiopian airlines flight from Brazil through Addis-Ababa.

They were arrested on November 17, 2022, upon arrival at Chileka Airport after being found in possession of cocaine weighing 3.6kgs and 3.5kgs.

South-West Police Region Prosecution Officer from, Superintendent Damiano Kaputa pleaded with the court to give the suspects a custodial sentence in order to send a strong message to would-be offenders.

In his ruling, Principal Resident Magistrate Godfrey Balaka sentenced the two convicts without option of fine on each count. Sentences to run concurrently.