Four French citizens, including two pilots have been granted bail after being held in pre-trial detention for over a year on suspicion of drug smuggling at the private aviation terminal of the Punta Cana International Airport.
They will be tried along with 14 other suspects after being formally charged with attempting to smuggle drugs in a private plane.
The accused have been told they cannot leave the country.
Prosecutors claim the 18 people were part of an elaborate bid to stow 700 kilos of cocaine on a plane piloted by two of those charged. Among those accused are Dominican military, customs and airport security agents.
Their defense team has welcomed the decision to grant bail, but maintain that the case is unfounded.
French authorities have expressed concerns about court proceedings since their arrest on 20 March 2013.
For more on the topic:
http://www.euronews.com/2014/06/18/french-citizens-in-dominican-republic-drug-smuggling-case-granted-bail/
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/6/17/326358/Tribunal-ordena-juicio-contra-pilotos-franceses-acusados-narcotrafico