Jamaica News

Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who was extradited to the United States after much civil unrest here in Jamaica last year, reportedly pleaded guilty today in a lower Manhattan (New York, USA) court to charges of drug and gun running, and one count of assault.

Coke reportedly plead guilty to one count of trafficking in narcotics and firearm trafficking under the RICO Act. He also pleaded guilty to one count of assault.

Coke now reportedly faces a maximum sentence of 23 years in prison, and prosecutors will reportedly be asking that the maximum sentenced be imposed.

Prosecutors allege that since 1990, Coke controlled an International drug ring from Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston. While cocaine and marijuana were being sent into the US, investigators alleged that guns and other firearms were sent from the US to other drug leaders in Jamaica. Officials said that they had wiretap information, informants and other evidence allegedly linking Coke to drug dealing dating back to 1994.

He will be sentenced on December 8 at 4 p.m.

Its been just over a week since Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke was extradited to the United States to face gun running and drug trafficking charges, and vendors in the Downtown Kingston area are reporting that buttons bearing his image and words are among the fastest selling items right now.

The buttons, which are reportedly being sold for $200, feature two pictures of Coke, along with the words “I Love My People” at the top and “President Dudus” at the bottom. The “I Love My People” is apparently quoted from Coke himself, said just prior to his extradition.

Unconfirmed reports indicate also that matching t-shirts are being printed at this time, and will be available for purchase soon.

At approximately 2:05 p.m. this afternoon, former Tivoli Gardens area don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke left the island on an aircraft which departed from the Norman Manley International Airport. He is on his way to the United States, where he faces various drug and gun-running charges. Earlier this morning, Coke waived his right to have an extradition trial in Jamaica, and issued the following statement:

I have, today, instructed my Attorneys that I intend to waive my right to an extradition hearing in Jamaica and to proceed directly to the United States under the terms of the Extradition Laws and treaty between Jamaica and the United States of America.

I have taken this decision of my own free will and have done so even though I am of the belief that my case would have been successfully argued in the Courts of Jamaica.

I take this decision for I now believe it to be in the interest of my family, the community of Western Kingston and in particular the people of Tivoli Gardens and above all Jamaica.

Everyone, the whole country, has been adversely affected by the process that has surrounded my extradition and I hope that my action today will go some way towards healing all who have suffered and will be of benefit to the community of Tivoli Gardens.

Above all I am deeply upset and saddened by the unnecessary loss of lives which could have been avoided, be it of members of the Security Forces and over eighty (80) residents of Tivoli or any other innocent Jamaicans that has occurred during this time.

I leave Jamaica and my family in particular, Patsy, with a heavy heart but fully confident that in due course I will be vindicated and returned to them.

Pray for me and God bless Jamaica.

- Christopher Coke

Questions are being raised in some circles, about the reasoning behind the police publicizing and circulating certain pictures (mugshots) that they took of captured Tivoli Gardens area don, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke’.

The pictures (featured below) show Coke wearing a wig, glasses and Gucci cap that were among the items found in the vehicle in which Coke was traveling when it was stopped by the police along Mandela Highway yesterday afternoon.

Reports indicate that the items caused much laughter among police attached to the Spanish Town Police Station (where Coke was initially brought after he was held yesterday). They allege that they were used as part of Coke’s disguise as he laid low since the manhunt started for him around May 24. The allegations did not miss the scrutiny of popular Jamaica Observer cartoonist, Clovis, who did two cartoons recently, showing Coke wearing a wig – cartoon 1 | cartoon 2.

Alleged drug kingpin and Tivoli Gardens area don, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who has been on the run from the police for several weeks now, was arrested by the police on Mandela Highway near the border between St. Catherine and Kingston earlier this afternoon. Coke was reportedly being driven by  influential evangelical preacher / mediator, Reverend Al Miller, when their vehicle was pulled over the police for a spot check.

Coke was identified and arrested immediately, despite indications by Reverend Miller that he was in the process of delivering Coke to the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, as Coke had indicated that he wanted to waive his rights to local extradition hearings. The 42 year old Coke is wanted for extradition to the United States on drug and gun trafficking charges. Miller said that associates of Coke had called him earlier that day, asking for his assistance in arranging his surrender at the embassy, because he (Coke) was worried that the local police would harm him if he attempted to surrender directly to them.

Indications are that Coke will face the Court soon (regarding his extradition), but that his role in recent civil disturbances and attacks on police stations and other crimes will be investigated. According to Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, “We are investigating all the attacks on our personnel and I am not in a position to make a definitive statement on that matter as yet.“