Seven men who left the island for Haiti last year aboard a vessel loaded with ganja, which they, allegedly, exchanged for firearms and ammunition were granted bail when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

The men appeared in court to answer to charges of conspiracy to export the drug and conspiracy to import firearms and ammunition.

They were charged after they, allegedly, exported approximately 909 kilograms of ganja to Haiti in exchange for guns.

The men answering to the charges are: Lumsden Ledgister, Ludy Banton, Kenrick Bennett, Andrew Reid, Felix Dennis, Orette Mckenzie and Richard Braham.

Allegations are that the men boarded a boat leaving from Parrotee Bay, St Elizabeth, in July last year and sailed for Haiti, where they traded the drug for 10 firearms. While returning to Jamaica, it is reported that the boat developed engine problems and drifted into Cuban waters. The Cuban coast guards apprehended them and contacted the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Detective Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn, spokesperson for Operation Kingfish, said the men were taken into custody in Jamaica between January 28 and 30 this year. While he could not specify the types of guns the men were held with, he said 170 rounds of ammunition were also taken from them.

The seven were granted bail in the sum of $500,000. They are to reappear in court on May 19.