Greek Coca Cola heir Alki David posted $300,000 bail and fled St Kitts on-board his private jet on Tuesday, a day after he was arrested on drugs charges for allegedly smuggling $1.3 million in cannabis plants onto the island.
David, 50, who travelled with his fellow billionaire business partner Chase Ergen, and the actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers, insists the transportation of the '5,000' cannabis plants was legal and 'intends to develop a cannabis businesses in the region.'
The billionaire heir to the Leventis-David group, which owns the Coca-Cola Hellenic bottling plants, is scheduled to return to the island on September 23 to appear in court on charges of possession with an intent to supply, possession of controlled drugs and importation of a controlled drug into the federation.
The large haul of hemp cloned plants and seeds were seized as evidence, but St Kitts authorities will now have to assume care of the plants until his court date, according to David, by which time it looks likely cannabis will be legal on the island following a recent court decision overturning some of the country's anti-drug laws.
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Greek Coca Cola heir Alki David posted $300,000 bail and fled St Kitts on-board his private jet on Tuesday, a day after he was arrested on drugs charges for allegedly smuggling $1.3 million in cannabis plants onto the island
The billionaire heir to the Leventis-David group, which owns the Coca-Cola Hellenic bottling plants, is scheduled to return to the island on September 23 to appear in court on charges of possession with an intent to supply, possession of controlled drugs and importation of a controlled drug into the federation
Speaking exclusively to the DailyMail.com about his intended venture, David said: 'There are very exciting plans to invest and transform the area with new plantations, I will drive that through in every way I can.
'There has been a lot of crazy and insane drama this week and I now want to move on from these episodes in a spirit of love and harmony.'
The billionaire also expressed his love of the island and hoped his planned venture would bring prosperity to the island, adding: 'I want to help this special island. Youth unemployment is very high and there is a chance to give a total boost to the area.
'I want do positive things for the beautiful island. I love St Kitts and I love their people. A near future awaits where we will grow thousands of acres of special plants.'
David, Ergen and Meyers were pulled aside by custom officials and held for eight hours after arriving on Saturday May 11. All three were later released but David was subsequently arrested Monday as he tried to leave the island
David, Ergen and Meyers were pulled aside by custom officials and held for eight hours after arriving on Saturday May 11. All three were later released but David was subsequently arrested Monday as he tried to leave the island.
After posting $300,000 bail David was able to leave. Ergen remains in hospital on the island for unspecified reasons, although it is understood he has family locally.
Meyers was held briefly and allowed to depart, he was with his wife and mother-in-law and in understood to be longterm friends with David, but unconnected to the business.
A statement from Alki David's legal team said: 'Alki David has cleared up the situation with the authorities in St. Kitts-Nevis and his passport has been returned to him.
He looks forward to continuing plans to develop the medicinal cannabis industry on the island, bringing new prosperity to its citizens.'
Footage obtained by the DailyMail.com shows David boarding the private jet minus the cannabis plants but with his SwissX CBD oil products that he planned to unveil on the
