The two non-nationals charged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with possession of 434kg (957lbs) of cocaine have been denied bail and ordered to return to court on April 30.
Venezuelan Frank Garcia and Grenadian Alister Haynes are on remand at His Majesty’s Prison, having been denied bail on Thursday.
They have been charged indictably in connection with the cocaine haul that law enforcement officers said was made at Cumberland on Monday.
Police are alleging that the non-nationals entered St Vincent and the Grenadines’ territorial waters on a yacht, which they anchored at Cumberland.
Garcia and Haynes were arrested and, along with the yacht, were taken to the Coast Guard base at Calliaqua.
The yacht was searched and found to be carrying containers and packages of cocaine, which amounted to 434,268 grammes.
Garcia and Haynes were jointly charged that on April 20, 2026, at Calliaqua, they had in their possession 434,268 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of drug-trafficking.
They were also charged with attempting to import the drug and had it in their possession with intent to supply to another.
The two men were also charged with breaching the country’s immigration regulations.
They were jointly charged that on April 20, at Cumberland, they entered St Vincent and the Grenadines at a place other than a port of entry.
On that charge, Haynes pleaded not guilty while Garcia pleaded guilty.
Garcia, when asked by Chief Magistrate Colin John if he spoke English, said “No”.
An officer from the local Coast Guard elected to perform the role of translator. The court accepted him as a qualified translator.
They were also charged that on April 20, at Cumberland, they entered the state by boat and disembarked without the consent of an immigration officer.
Garcia pleaded guilty and Haynes pleaded not guilty.
Haynes pleaded not guilty to a separate charge that on April 20, at Cumberland, being a prohibited immigrant, he entered St Vincent and the Grenadines without a passport.
Garcia pleaded guilty to a charge that on April 20, at Cumberland, he knowingly and wilfully allowed himself to be landed as a prohibited immigrant.
