A man who was caught red handed during the sale of a large consignment of ecstasy drugs has been jailed for eight years and fined €23,000 after admitting  to complicity to traffic drugs.

The sentence was handed down after a plea bargain agreement.

The court heard how the accused Jeffrey Zammit and another man had procured 1,000 ecstasy pills. The accused made arrangements for the sale of the drug to a third party. The handover took place at Naxxar, but the police were tipped off and arrested those involved.

The drugs were found in the possession of Robert Cilia, who was also involved in the procurement of the drugs.

In filing the guilty plea, Mr Zammit also admitted having been in possession of cannabis plants.

Lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili appeared for Mr Agius.