The leader of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has been detained in the United States on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.

US agents impersonating as cocaine traffickers from a Mexican drug organization detained Premier Andrew Fahie in Miami.

According to accusations filed in the US, he agreed to a $700,000 (£560,000) payment with an undercover informant to allow traffickers to utilise BVI ports.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has stated that the claims have “appalled” her.

Mr Fahie, the elected head of government of the British offshore territory, was arrested in Florida alongside senior BVI port administrator Oleanvine Maynard by US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) investigators.

On Thursday, a third individual was detained in connection with the undercover DEA case: Kadeem Maynard, Ms Maynard’s son.

The arrests came after DEA operatives pretended to be cocaine traffickers from Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, which is thought to be the largest supplier of illegal drugs to the US market and was once led by now-imprisoned drug lord Joaqun ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.

According to police, the trio has been accused with conspiring to import more than 5kg (11lb) of cocaine into the United States as well as money laundering.

The DEA said the investigation began in October based on work done by a confidential informant, according to a criminal complaint filed in a US federal court.

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