LONDON – Following the arrest of the territory’s leader in the United States on accusations of alleged drug trafficking and money laundering, the UK government announced on Friday that it will send a minister to the British Virgin Islands.
Following a sting operation by the US Drug Enforcement Agency, Premier Andrew Fahie and the BVI’s leading port official were arrested at a Miami-area airport (DEA).
“The arrest of the Premier of the British Virgin Islands on drug trafficking and money laundering accusations yesterday is highly disturbing and highlights the need for immediate action,” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.
Amanda Milling, the Minister for Overseas Territories, said she will fly to the territory “immediately” to meet with Governor John Rankin and other key players.
“After that, we will announce a clear course forward.”
The government expressed “grave worries about the worsening quality of administration in the British Virgin Islands, as well as the islands’ potential vulnerability to major organised crime” in January of last year, according to Truss.
“Significant legislative and constitutional change is required to restore the standards of governance that the people of the British Virgin Islands are entitled to,” according to an investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of office under the Fahie government, which was published “urgently” on Friday.
On the suggestion of the UK government, the commission recommended that Rankin, a Queen Elizabeth II appointee, take direct control of the territory for two years.
Following the “terrible news” of Fahie’s detention, Rankin has urged calm on the islands.
The self-governing Caribbean archipelago is home to roughly 35,000 people and is a British overseas territory whose defence and foreign policy are overseen by the UK.
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It is one of the most popular offshore tax havens in the world. Anti-corruption advocates have accused both the local administration and London of turning a blind eye to illicit foreign money flows.
According to the Miami Herald, DEA investigators detained Fahie and BVI Port Authority managing director Oleanvine Maynard at the Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport after they allegedly agreed to collect money from undercover agents posing as Mexican drug smugglers.
According to the Herald, Fahie and Maynard were to check a plane carrying $700,000 that they would earn in exchange for facilitating cocaine shipments through the area.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram stated in a statement that the officers’ arrests “should send a clear message.”
“Anyone complicit in smuggling deadly narcotics into the United States, regardless of their position, will be held accountable.”
Fahie, Maynard, and Maynard’s son were all charged with “conspiracy to import five kilogrammes or more of cocaine” and “conspiracy to launder money,” according to court documents filed Thursday.
