Jamaican alleged drug lord ‘Dudus’ captured, leaves for US

The Suspected Jamaican drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke has been extradited to the US, where he is wanted on drug and gun-trafficking charges.

Coke, who was wanted by the Southern District of New York on drug and weapons charges, was captured by Jamaican police on the outskirts of Kingston. His attorney had contacted U.S. authorities on Monday advising that Coke was considering turning himself in to the U.S. It was the first communication that U.S. authorities had had with Coke’s attorney in several weeks.

Mr Coke was taken to the airport in Kingston after waiving his rights to challenge the extradition.

He faces life in prison if convicted on charges filed against him in New York.

Attempts to capture him in May led to clashes in which scores of people died. He was finally detained on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Mr Coke, aged 41, made a brief appearance before a Jamaican judge to announce that he was waiving his rights to challenge the extradition.

Mr Coke said he believed he could win the case in the Jamaican courts.

But he added that he would go to the US to stand trial for the sake of his family, the people of Tivoli in west Kingston and 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,” he said in a statement.

US Marshals, DEA agents and federal prosecutors had worked hand in hand with senior Jamaican military and police officials in an effort to effect Coke’s surrender and extradition.

The US justice department says Mr Coke is one of the world’s most dangerous drug lords, but his supporters say he is a community leader.

Mr Coke is accused of being the leader of the notorious Shower Posse, which US authorities say operates an international drug and gun smuggling network. It has also been blamed for numerous murders.

The pursuit of Mr Coke has shed light on the links between politicians and gang leaders in Jamaica.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding is said to have relied on Mr Coke to turn out the vote at election time in the Tivoli Gardens district he represents in parliament, and which the Shower Posse controls.

When Mr Coke was first indicted in the US last August, Mr Golding initially fought the extradition, arguing that it was based on flawed evidence.

But after months of delays and amid growing local and international criticism, he agreed to extradite the suspect and signed an arrest warrant in May.

However, gunmen loyal to Mr Coke in Tivoli Gardens barricaded the streets and mounted attacks against the police.

A state of emergency was declared and more than 70 people were killed in four days of gun battles, during which Mr Coke was able to escape. The security forces have since been accused of using excessive force.

The police and military effort to capture Coke and curb the violence brought thousands of uniformed men into Kingston’s streets. Jamaican authorities allege that Coke brought in gunmen from other parts of Jamaica and other Caribbean islands to fight back and help prevent his capture.