John Udagha Omeh, 42, a Nigerian businessman, was this afternoon jailed for 20 years and fined €70,000 after he was found guilty by a jury of conspiring to import cocaine, importing it and being in possession of the drug in circumstances denoting it was not for his exclusive use.

The trial started yesterday and the jury returned its 7-2 verdict this afternoon.

The Nigerian had been accused of importing three kilogrammes of cocaine which was found in a hidden compartment of his luggage. The drug had a street value of €229,664.

The accused had claimed that he had no prior knowledge that the suitcase contained drugs and claimed he had been carrying it for a friend.

The man was arrested after arriving on a flight from Tripoli. He started his trip in Togo.