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Vincentian pilot Keith Allen was charged with drug-related offences in Barbados (Photo: Barbados Nation).

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The Vincentian pilot who was arrested and slapped with drug-related charges in Barbados on Thursday pleaded not guilty but was denied bail when he appeared before a Bridgetown magistrate yesterday.

Keith Richard Otway Allen, 34, of Arnos Vale, was declared a flight risk, denied bail and remanded to prison, the Nation newspaper reported.

Allen, who also resided in Christ Church, Barbados told the court he was not guilty of drug possession, intent to supply, importation and trafficking.

He was remanded to prison despite the pleas of his attorney.

Allen arrived in Barbados on a LIAT flight from St Vincent around 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, the Nation said.

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He was arrested by officers from the Drug Squad who allegedly found two packages of marijuana in his pilot’s bag and another six packages in a pulley he was carrying. He was wearing his pilot’s uniform but was not on duty at the time, according to the report.

Meanwhile, LIAT in a statement on Friday said they have “taken note of the reports in the regional media of the arrest of its employee First Officer, Keith Allen”.

The company said that its management “wishes to indicate its full support for, and cooperation with, law enforcement authorities in relation to any incidents where its cooperation is required” and that it intends to conduct its own investigation into this matter.

“The management of LIAT is confident that the overwhelming majority of the Company’s employees continue to respect the laws of their country. It is our hope that the actions of one employee will not reflect negatively on the hundreds of ethical LIAT employees who work hard to serve the public daily,” the statement further said.