Gardiner Denied Bail Amid Drug Plot

Bahamas News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 26, 2026 · 1m

A judge just denied bail for Jonathan Gardiner, a 58-year-old drug trafficking suspect with ties to Bahamian officials, calling him a “substantial danger” and citing overwhelming evidence. Arrested after a plane crash off Florida with $30K in cash — claimed by defense as legitimate Bahamian campaign funds — Gardiner faces a potential 15-year sentence and a massive cocaine smuggling plot allegedly involving the Bahamian Parliament. Prosecutors say he’s a flight risk, while his lawyer argues the money was political, not illicit. The judge rejected those claims, citing Gardiner’s prior…