U.S. Judge Denies Bail For Eric “Player” Gardiner

UNITED STATES – A U.S District Judge in New York has rejected a motion for bail for convicted drug trafficker Eric Gardiner, commonly known as Player.

Federal Judge Gregory Woods ordered the 58-year-old’s continued remand as he awaits trial on allegations of conspiracy to import cocaine and firearms charges.

Gardiner was arrested on Election Day after a plane that left Marsh Harbour, Abaco for Grand Bahama crashed off the Florida coast.

Gardiner was carrying $30,000 in Bahamian currency that prosecutors say was packaged in manner consistent with drug smuggling.

However, Gardiner’s lawyer Susy Ayala-Ribero argued that the money that allegedly had an unnamed politician’s name on it was related to the election campaign.

According to Ayala-Ribero, the plane’ passengers were engaged in campaign-related activities prior to the crash.

Photos of the passengers on the plane showed them wearing PLP paraphernalia.