The Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands, arrested and charged in the United States with drug trafficking and money laundering, appeared on Friday April 29 before a judge in Florida.
To discover
LIVE - War in Ukraine: follow minute by minute the evolution of the conflict
YOUR COMMUNE - The results of the second round of the presidential election in your area
Read alsoThe “narcodivers”, these drug traffickers who worry the French secret services
During the hearing, which was held by videoconference, magistrate Jonathan Goodman read to Andrew Fahie as well as to the director of port services for this overseas territory of the United Kingdom, Oleanvine Maynard, also arrested the day before , the charges against them: conspiracy to import five kilos or more of cocaine into the United States and to launder money.
Mr Fahie, 51, and Ms Maynard, 60, appeared from a small courtroom with four other detainees.
They were all wearing masks.
The two senior officials were arrested Thursday at an airport in North Miami when they thought they had an appointment with Mexican drug traffickers who were to give them $700,000 in cash.
In reality, they were undercover agents of the DEA, the United States anti-drug agency, according to court documents.
Mexican Sinaloa Cartel
A DEA agent reportedly contacted them claiming to be a member of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel who needed help transporting drugs from Colombia to Miami and New York through Tortola in the Virgin Islands.
Police also arrested Ms Maynard's son, Kadeem Maynard, in another town.
British Foreign Minister Liz Truss said she was "
appalled by these serious allegations
" and announced on Friday that Overseas Minister Amanda Milling had been sent to the Virgin Islands to speak with the governor and senior officials.
“
The Overseas Territories are an integral part of the British family.
The government is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the people of the British Virgin Islands
,” she said.
Shortly before Mr. Fahie's appearance, Governor John Rankin's office released an investigative report into executive corruption, which was due to be released in June and is unrelated to drug trafficking. drug of which the Prime Minister is accused.
The document, drafted by a British judge, recommends that the territory's self-government be suspended so that London can find a solution to the governance problems in the archipelago, and that Mr Rankin rules the territory for two years.
