After entering a Caribbean country with approximately 5,000 cannabis plants on a private plane has resulted in the arrest of a Greek billionaire, The Independent reported.
First detained on May 7, Alkiviades David was initially arrested by anti-narcotics police at the St. Kitts and Nevis airport, but released, the report said.
He was arrested a second time two days later, the newspaper reported.
The Independent said David had been charged with possession with intent to supply, possession of controlled drugs and importation of a controlled drug, a police spokesman said.
When he was stopped by customs officials, the newspaper reported, David is believed to have been transporting £1m worth of cannabis plants and seeds.
The Vancouver Sun reported the plants are believed to have been for SwissX, David’s medical cannabis company.
The report said David is worth around £2.6bn and belongs to the Leventis family, who are majority shareholders in the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company.
David was released on bail Tuesday, a police spokesperson said, adding his bail contained new conditions – a cash bail of $300,000 and $600,000 “with two sureties for his appearance at the Basseterre Magistrate Court,” the report said.
David has denied the charges, according to The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
He claimed the plants were of a different variety to cannabis and were not illegal in St Kitts, the newspaper reported, as they did not contain THC, the active ingredient found in cannabis plants.
David’s business partner, Chase Ergen, 66, was also reportedly detained by police officers during the incident.
David is scheduled to appear at the Bassetrre Magistrates Court in St Kitts and Nevis on Sept. 23.
– WN.com, Jack Durschlag
Photo:
Creative Commons / lemoncat1
