Four French citizens, including two pilots have been granted bail after being held in pre-trial detention in the Dominican Republic for over a year on suspicion of drug smuggling.
They will be tried along with 14 other suspects after being formally charged with attempting to smuggle drugs via 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.
Their defence team has welcomed the decision to grant bail, but called the case unfounded.
French authorities have expressed concerns about court proceedings since their arrest last March.
