MEXICO, January 18 - RAPSI. Russians Vladimir Galkin and Oleg Denisov detained in Cancun, Mexico, for allegedly stealing a yacht, are facing up to six years in prison, a source in Quintana Roo law enforcement authorities told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

According to the source, the Russian consulate has contacted the detainees, who said they were put into custody on January 14 after the yacht entered the Cancun port. Then they had to spend two days in the state prosecutor's office detention ward and were later transferred to a prison.

Russians are charged with stealing a yacht in Miami, United States, although they maintain they leased it. The lease agreement with an intermediary, who could be a fraud, was concluded in a simple written form. Eventually, the yacht was placed on an international wanted list and seized in Cancun.

Russians are complaining about the custody conditions: bad food, considering that Galkin has a gastric ulcer; they are also being keept together with other prisoners who take their clothes and boots. Under Mexican laws, they may be kept in custody pending a trial for five days since their detention.

Galkin and Denisov insist on their extradition to the United States where they can prove their innocence: they have documents in confirmation of the yacht lease and a passport copy of the individual who leased it to them.

Earlier a Cancun court told RIA Novosti that both Russians may be released for a 80 million peso ($6 million) fine.