British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie and the country’s Port Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard were arrested by federal agents Thursday morning on charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and money laundering.
According to the Miami Herald, the men were taken into custody by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.
“The foreign officials were arrested after they met with undercover DEA agents posing as cocaine traffickers to check out an alleged shipment of $700,000 in cash on an airplane that they believed was destined for the British Virgin Islands… The DEA agents were posing as members of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel,” the Miami Herald reported.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, in a brief statement issued Thursday evening, also announced the arrest of Maynard’s son Kadeem in the case.
She said the drug trafficking and money-laundering related charges “should send a clear message”.
“Anyone involved with bringing dangerous drugs into the United States will be held accountable, no matter their position. Today is yet another example of DEA’s resolve to hold corrupt members of government responsible for using their positions of power to provide a safe haven for drug traffickers and money launderers in exchange for their own financial and political gain,” Milgram said.
BVI Governor calls for calm
BVI Governor John Rankin issued an official statement on Thursday afternoon confirmed the arrests.
“I realise this will be shocking news for people in the Territory. And I would call for calm at this time,” Rankin said in his statement, adding that Deputy Premier Natalio Wheatley will be acting premier of the territory.
He said, in the statement, that Fahie was detained “in Miami on charges related to conspiracy to import a controlled substance and money laundering”.
According to the Miami Herald, both government officials were in Miami for a cruise convention and “went to the airport Thursday morning to see the alleged load of cash after DEA agents told them that the money was a payoff for allowing the cartel’s future cocaine loads to be transported through the British territory to the United States”.
Rankin said the arrests were “a US operation led by the DEA and is not linked to the Commission of Inquiry”, which was established in 2021 to look into allegations of corruption and abuse of office by elected and statutory officials.
“The remit of the Commission of Inquiry focused on governance and corruption, and was not a criminal investigation into the illegal drug trade. To avoid unnecessary speculation, I intend to move ahead urgently on publication of the Inquiry Report so the people of the BVI can see its contents and its recommendations in the areas it addresses,” he said.
Citing the arrests were part of a live US investigation, Rankin said he had no additional information “nor can I comment any further”.
He said that as it concerned the arrest of a British citizen, the US authorities had informed the UK government of the arrest, as part of the usual process when a British citizen is arrested abroad.
“The UK Government has subsequently informed me as Governor,” he added.
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement on the developing situation, that she was “appalled by these serious allegations”.
“This arrest demonstrates the importance of the recently concluded Commission of Inquiry. I have spoken to the Governor of the BVI and he will be holding an emergency meeting of the Territory’s Cabinet later today. He will set out next steps [Friday], including urgent publication of the Inquiry’s report,” she said in her statement.
Rankin informed the BVI community that he will call acting Premier Natalio Wheatley and UK Overseas Territories Minister Amanda Milling to discuss “further engagement between the UK and BVI on this urgent issue”.
The governor said he will discuss with the acting premier and Cabinet the way “forward in continuing to support the good governance of the Territory”.
Both men were expected to appear in court Friday.
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