Premier of British Territory Claims Immunity in Drug Case

British Virgin Islands leader allegedly accepted bribe from undercover DEA agent
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 29, 2022 8:31 AM CDT
Updated May 3, 2022 12:03 AM CDT

Update: The premier of the British Virgin Islands said Monday that as the elected, constitutional head of government of the British overseas territory, he is immune from prosecution on charges of cocaine-smuggling and the US must immediately release him from custody. One former federal prosecutor, however, tells the AP that prosecutors likely feel very confident in the case against Andrew Fahie, otherwise they would not have moved forward with the rare prosecution of a foreign official. "Immunity doesn’t protect you if you’re on your own private boondoggle," he says. Our original story from April 29 follows:

The premier of the British Virgin Islands complained to a DEA informant posing as a Mexican drug cartel member that the "British didn't pay him much," according to a criminal affidavit filed in Florida. Premier Andrew Fahie and Oleanvine Maynard, chief of the Caribbean territory's port authority, were arrested in Miami on Thursday after a sting operation, the Guardian reports. Fahie allegedly asked for an upfront payment of $500,000 in return for allowing cocaine from Colombia to be stored in the territory on its way to the US, reports the New York Times. The island group is east of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Authorities say Fahie and Maynard were arrested at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, CNN reports. They face federal charges of conspiring to import cocaine and conspiracy to launder money. According to the affidavit, the DEA source met "a group of self-proclaimed Lebanese Hezbollah operatives" in October who said they could introduce him to senior members of the British Virgin Islands government. The affidavit states that Fahie and Maynard offered to allow cocaine through BVI ports in return for an upfront payment of $500,000 for Fahie and $200,000 for Maynard, plus 12% of the estimated sale price in Miami.

story continues below

Fahie and Maynard were separately taken to a private jet at the Miami airport where they were shown $700,000 in cash, the affidavit states. They were arrested after leaving the aircraft. Fahie is the elected leader of the British territory's government. Liz Truss, Britain's foreign secretary, says she is "appalled" by the allegations, the BBC reports. John Rankin, the territory's British-appointed governor, confirmed the arrests. "I realize this will be shocking news for people in the territory," he said in a statement. "And I would call for calm at this time.” (More drug trafficking stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X