Authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have rejected bail applications for two foreign citizens facing a series of major charges connected to one of the region’s recent large-scale drug seizures, ordering the pair to reappear before the court on April 30.
The accused, identified as Frank Garcia, a Venezuelan national, and Alister Haynes, a citizen of Grenada, are currently being held in remand at His Majesty’s Prison following Thursday’s bail ruling by the local court.
The entire operation unfolded after local law enforcement launched a stop and search at a coastal location in Cumberland earlier this week, when officers intercepted a yacht carrying the two men that had entered the country’s territorial waters and anchored off the Cumberland coast. After the pair were taken into custody, the vessel was escorted to the local Coast Guard base in Calliaqua for a full inspection. During the search, officers uncovered containers and packages holding a total of 434,268 grams, or approximately 957 pounds, of cocaine.
Both men face three separate indictable charges related to the drug haul: possession of the large quantity of cocaine for the purpose of drug trafficking, attempted importation of the controlled substance, and possession of cocaine with intent to supply to other parties. All drug-related charges are dated April 20, 2025 at Calliaqua, according to court documents.
In addition to the drug offenses, the pair are facing four charges related to violating St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ immigration laws. All immigration charges stem from their illegal entry on April 20 at Cumberland. Specifically, they are accused of entering the country at a location that is not an official designated port of entry. For this count, Garcia entered a guilty plea, while Haynes pleaded not guilty.
Court proceedings hit a brief procedural pause when Chief Magistrate Colin John confirmed that Garcia does not speak English. A serving officer from the local Coast Guard was appointed to serve as a translator for the hearing, an arrangement that was approved by the court as valid.
A second immigration charge accuses the two men of entering the country by boat and disembarking from the vessel without prior approval from an authorized immigration officer. Once again, Garcia pleaded guilty to this count while Haynes maintained a not guilty plea. Haynes faces an additional separate charge of entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines without a valid passport as a prohibited immigrant, to which he has also pleaded not guilty. Garcia, meanwhile, has pleaded guilty to a corresponding charge that he knowingly and intentionally allowed himself to be landed in the country as a prohibited immigrant.