British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie charged with drug trafficking and money laundering | Scoop News
The Premier of the British Virgin Islands has been charged in the US with drug trafficking and money laundering.
Federal prosecutors in Miami have charged Andrew Fahie and two others with conspiracy to traffic cocaine and launder money, the US Justice Department said.
On Friday, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss confirmed the 51-year-old man had been arrested in the US.
Ms Truss said she was “appalled” by the allegations and that an “emergency meeting of the territorial cabinet” would be held on Friday.
Read more: How US Law Enforcement Heads Up BVI in Drug and Money Laundering Investigation
Fahie was organized as part of an operation led by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a statement by British Virgin Islands (BVI) governor John Rankin at the time said.
It was launched as an investigation – unrelated to Fahie’s allegations or his initial arrest – concluding that the BVI should suspend the constitution, dissolve the elected government and be reinstated. directly from London.
BVI report requested in 2021 by British overseas territory governor John Rankin
Mr Rankin ordered a report to be made to investigate “corruption, abuse of office and other serious acts of dishonesty” within the jurisdiction of the British overseas territory.
He explained that British judge Gary Hickinbottom, who led the investigation, had concluded that “drastic and urgent steps” needed to be taken to prevent elected officials from “deliberately ignoring the principles of law”. on good governance”.
Mr Rankin added: “He notes that the people of the BVI deserve better, and that the UK government owes them a duty to protect them from such abuses and to assist them in achieving their aspirations. autonomous as a modern democratic state.”
The report recommends any new administrative arrangements should last two years but added that ministerial government should resume “as soon as possible”.
If London accepts the recommendation, Mr Rankin – a British diplomat by profession – will take over the day-to-day running of the BVI.
