Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands arrested in the United States

Published on : 29/04/2022 – 15:02

The Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands was arrested overnight in the United States. This overseas territory of the United Kingdom is already targeted by an investigation for corruption and bad governance. The Virginia Governor speaks of a new ” shocking for his fellow citizens.

Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands since 2019, Andrew Fahie spent the night from Thursday to Friday in a prison in Miami, Florida. He is suspected of money laundering and drug trafficking. US DEA agents posed as members of a Mexican drug cartel to trap the Virginian politician, our correspondent in London tells, Emeline Wine. Arrested alongside him, two port officials from the archipelago who allegedly agreed to facilitate the movement of drugs in the ports of the British Virgin Islands for nearly 700,000 euros.

The arrests come as for fifteen months, Andrew Fahie is targeted by a parliamentary inquiry for bad governance and corruption. This investigation should have already made its conclusions, but it has no connection with the American accusations.

London is “ dismayed » by situation

The Prime Minister is elected by the 28,000 inhabitants of the British Virgin Islands, but the United Kingdom also appoints a governor there, representing Queen Elizabeth II. The latter calls “ quiet “. John Rankin said he wanted “ accelerate » the publication of the results of the survey for « avoid unnecessary speculation ».

For her part, the head of British diplomacy, Liz Truss says to herself ” appalled by these serious allegations in a statement sent Thursday evening. She explained that she spoke with the Governor of the British Virgin Islands who will hold a “ emergency meeting of the territory cabinet during the day ».

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