Despite denials by Ex-Governor John J. Rankin, CMG on whether he knew in advance of the United States (US) sting operation that led to the arrest of ex-Premier Andrew A. Fahie, US Court heard on February 1, 2024 of the UK’s involvement in the operation from almost the beginning.
Back in September 2022, a podcast by Tortoise Media, a UK media house entitled ‘Paradise Bust: Scandal in the British Virgin Islands’, has explored and sought to find answers on what British Government officials knew about the drug sting operation that led to the arrest of Fahie in Miami.
Not a joint UK/US operation – Ex-Governor Rankin
On April 28, 2022, then Governor Rankin in a press statement revealed he was informed that then Premier Fahie was arrested in Miami and said the UK Government informed him as Governor after they were informed by the US.
While the then Governor never admitted to authorizing DEA operations and indicated that he was not aware of the sting operation, in a podcast by Tortoise Media, then Governor Rankin, “It was London who informed me because they had been informed by the US authorities that morning of the arrest of Premier Fahie.”
Mr Rankin added, “This was not a joint UK/US operation it was a US operation which led to the arrest of former Premier Fahie.”
However, on day four of the high-profile trial, a witness for the prosecution told a different story of the planning that led to the arrest of the then Premier and his alleged co-conspirators, then BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Ms Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard and son, Kadeem Maynard.
Key Witness shares new details
According to sources, one witness for the prosecution after questioning by Fahie’s attorney Theresa M. Van Vliet explained that the case first sparked DEA interest in August 2021 and discussions crossed the pond for UK involvement a month later in September.
Those discussions with persons at the UK’s National Crime Agency meant the UK knew of the sting operation almost at the beginning according to the witness.
The witness detailed UK involvement in the months after the first initial meetings and months before the arrest, including with the informant, “Roberto,” who collected hundreds of recorded conversations and text messages with Mr Fahie while they allegedly discussed million-dollar bribery payments for access to VI.
Was Fahie framed?
Virgin Island News Online reported on January 31, 2024, that the Miami Herald shared details of Fahie’s defense team counter-argument, that his words (phone records) will show he had no intention of using his power to enrich himself on cocaine shipments to the United States, without elaborating.
Before the details of UK involvement, one of Fahie’s lawyers argued during an opening statement on Monday that Mr Fahie was “framed” by the United Kingdom. “He believed the U.K. government was involved in a scheme to frame him to remove him from office,” Attorney Joyce Delgado told the 12-person jury.
