BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING an investigation of the occupants of a private aircraft that landed at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport early Tuesday morning (May 7) with a cargo said to be controlled drugs, police have arrested and charged billionaire Alkivaides ‘Alki’ David of California, USA.
According to an informed source, some nine persons were aboard the aircraft. However, only David was held responsible for the controlled drugs as a police communiqué stated that he was arrested at the RLB International Airport on Thursday (May 9) by members of the Anti-Narcotics Unit.
He was charged with Possession with Intent to Supply, Possession of Controlled Drugs and Importation of a Controlled Drug into the Federation.
The communiqué also stated that David had appeared at the Basseterre Magistrate Court on the day following his arrested and was granted bail in the sum of $30,000 to be paid forthwith and a sum of $50,000 with two sureties.
He was also ordered to surrender all travel documents and to report to the Frigate Bay Police Station on a daily basis.
The billionaire is expected to appear at the Basseterre Magistrate Court tomorrow (May 14).
Meanwhile, Caribbean News Now, which has also been reporting on the incident, stated that David and Chase Ergen had formed “an international-regional consortium to invest in Caribbean cannabis aimed at developing cannabis businesses in the Eastern Caribbean nations such as St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Antigua”.
The online media house also stated that David’s arrest stemmed from a misunderstanding about the legality of the shipment, which included “hemp clone plants, hemp seeds and Swissx CBD oil products - all legal, non-THC plant medicines”.
It is the view in some quarters that David came to the Federation with the intention of taking advantage of the proposed decriminalisation of Marijuana.
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, during Thursday’s (May 9) sitting of the National Assembly, had made reference to the above mentioned.
“We have been reliably informed that certain international business predators and pirates aided by unsavoury local elements are positioning themselves to venture into plant cultivation to the detriment of locals, particularly our Rastafarians brethren.
“And some of the actors are seen in photo ops recently with unpatriotic persons with a checkered past, who see the freeing-up of the herb in St. Kitts and Nevis as an opportunity for them to profit at the expense of our local people.”
He also said that there are misguided local operatives who are promising land giveaways of up to 300 acres to their friends and associates.
