The DEA arrested the Premier of the British Virgin Islands in Miami on money laundering charges

According to Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the premier of the British Virgin Islands has been arrested on "charges related to drugs trafficking and money laundering."

Andrew Fahie was apprehended in the city of Miami, Florida.

According to a statement from British Virgin Islands governor John Rankin, he was detained as part of a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operation.

Mr Rankin said, "I realise this will be shocking news for people in the territory and I would call for calm at this time."

According to the Miami Herald, Fahie was apprehended at an airport after DEA agents pretended to be cocaine traffickers from the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.

Ms Truss stated that she was "appalled" by the allegations.

"This afternoon, the premier of the British Virgin Islands, Andrew Fahie, was arrested in the United States on charges related to drugs trafficking and money laundering," she said in a statement. "This arrest demonstrates the importance of the recently concluded Commission of Inquiry. I have spoken to the governor of the BVI and he will be holding an emergency meeting of the territory’s cabinet later today. He will set out next steps tomorrow, including urgent publication of the inquiry’s report."

A request for comment from the DEA was not immediately returned.

By fLEXI tEAM