BVI Premier Andrew Fahie arrested in Miami on cocaine trafficking charges
British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested at a Miami airport on drug trafficking charges after allegedly agreeing to move cocaine for a Sinaloa cartel informant.
BVI Premier and port chief taken into custody in Miami drug sting
British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie, 51, was arrested at Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport on Thursday after boarding what had been presented to him as a private jet, according to federal court documents cited by nbcnews.com. Authorities say he inspected shopping bags containing $700,000 in cash as part of an undercover operation.
Fahie is accused of agreeing to help a federal informant — posing as a member of the Sinaloa cartel — move thousands of kilograms of cocaine through BVI's port. According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Miami, he allegedly accepted a deal for "free passage" of 3,000-kilo cocaine shipments travelling from Colombia to the United States.
"Why am I getting arrested," Fahie is alleged to have said at the scene. "I don't have any money or drugs."
Oleanvine Maynard, managing director of the territory's port authority, was arrested later the same day after allegedly accepting a $200,000 payment as part of the arrangement. Her son, Kadeem Maynard, who authorities say helped broker the deal, was also taken into custody on drug conspiracy and money laundering charges.
The three were arrested following a meeting first held on April 7 on the island of Tortola, where the informant, Fahie, and the Maynards allegedly negotiated terms. Thursday's encounter in Florida was described in court documents as a "test run" of the operation.
Fahie allegedly agreed to receive 12 percent of the proceeds from cocaine sales. The informant also promised to supply low-purity cocaine that local authorities could seize, giving the appearance that Fahie was actively combating drug trafficking. "Fahie loved the idea, and explained that in the past he never got paid at the end of his involvement in schemes like this," the complaint states.
Anne Milgram, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said the arrests reflected the agency's commitment to pursuing corrupt officials. "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," she said in a statement.
BVI Governor John Rankin said the criminal investigation was not connected to a separate, UK-led inquiry into corruption on the island. "I realize this will be shocking news for people in the territory," he said, calling for calm.
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss described the allegations as "appalling" and said she was convening an emergency meeting with the territory's cabinet on Thursday.
It was not immediately clear whether Fahie or the Maynards had legal representation; court records did not list any attorneys on their behalf, and no court date had been confirmed at the time of reporting.
Fahie, who was elected in 2019, also serves as chairman of the Virgin Islands Party. Maynard was appointed to her position as managing director of the port authority in 2021.
Source: Google News VG — Crime