Andrew Fahie, the former Premier of the British Virgin Islands, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in a cocaine smuggling scheme. Fahie was implicated in a plot where U.S. federal agents, posing as members of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, offered large sums of money to facilitate the use of Tortola as a transit point for cocaine shipments bound for the U.S. mainland.
Fahie was caught in a sting operation where undercover U.S. federal agents posed as drug cartel members. During the operation, Fahie asked if they were police, emphasizing that he didn’t want to lose his two-decade political career in a moment. Despite his claims of being entrapped, prosecutors highlighted his active participation, including requesting bribe money and private flights for his family. He was found guilty on multiple charges, including conspiracy to import cocaine and money laundering.
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The sting operation revealed that Fahie and his co-defendants, including former BVI Ports Authority Executive Director Oleanvine Pickering Maynard and her son, agreed to import 6,000 kilograms of cocaine monthly. Each shipment was expected to generate $78 million in revenue, with Fahie and his associates receiving $7 million per shipment.
Fahie’s conviction was supported by over 8,000 minutes of recorded audio, where he was heard discussing the smuggling plot and expressing dissatisfaction over past compensations. Despite character testimonies highlighting his community contributions, the court was not swayed, and Fahie, along with his co-defendants, received substantial prison sentences.
