WESTERN BUREAU — Three men from the Czech Republic, who Tuesday told the court that they had been pressured by a Russian mob to swallow and smuggle five pounds of cocaine out of the island, were fined $1.275 million dollars for the offence.

In addition, they are to serve between 18 and 21 months behind bars.

The accused men attempted to smuggle the contraband out of the island via the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on January 25, while on their way to Amsterdam via a Martin Air flight.

They are:

* Ladisluv Ferenc, a 39-year-old construction worker and father of four;

* Svoboda Libor, 56, truck driver and father of two; and

* Styndl Martin, 28, construction worker and father of three.

They were stopped and interviewed at the airport and later taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where they excreted the cocaine.

Ferenc excreted one pound, 10.09 ounces of the drug. Libor excreted two pounds, 1.4 ounces, while Martin excreted two pounds, 2.94 ounces. They were subsequently arrested and charged for possession of, dealing in and attempting to export the illegal substance.

Their attorney, George Duncan, pleaded with the court to be lenient in light of the two months they had already spent in incarceration, adding that they had been forced to choose between the safety of their family and transporting the contraband.

“They said they had no intention of breaking the law but as a result of the threat to their families, they thought they would have taken the chance as certainly it was the better option,” the attorney told the court.

That aside, he said that his clients’ time in the island had not been easy, particularly since they do not speak English.

But the men’s claim of pressure from a Russian mob gained them little sympathy. On the contrary, it was used as an opening to repeat the message to drug lords that the island would not tolerate smuggling.

“It is a timely reminder as to why we need to keep this kind of trade from our shores,” Resident Magistrate Paulette Williams said shortly before handing down the sentences.

For possession of the drug, Ferenc was fined $175,000 or six months while Libor and Martin were each fined $250,000 or six months.

On the charge of attempting to export the drug, Ferenc was fined $200,000 or six months, while Libor and Martin were each fined $250,000 or six months. In addition, on the export charge Ferenc will serve 18 months behind bars, while Libor and Martin will each serve a term of 21 months. The dealing charge against the men was dismissed but if the fines are not paid, they will all serve an additional year behind bars.