Andrew Fahie is expected to appear before a Miami Federal Court this afternoon after being arrested for alleged drug smuggling and money laundering in the US.

The leader of the British Virgin Islands was detained in Miami by US agents posing as cocaine traffickers from a Mexican drug cartel.

Premier Fahie allegedly agreed to a US$700,000 payment to allow traffickers to use BVI ports.

A senior port official of the BVI, Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem Maynard were also arrested in the case.

Together, the three have been charged with conspiracy to import more than 5kg of cocaine into the US and conspiring to commit money laundering.