Jamaican fugitive, ‘Dudus’ Coke, found near Kingston

christopher 'dudus' coke

There is breaking news tonight, and that is that the man at the center of a massive manhunt in Jamaica is now in police custody. Christopher “Dudus” Coke was arrested this afternoon in Spanish Town on the island, fifteen minutes away from Kingston. He was wanted for allegedly smuggling illegal firearms and drugs into the US and after an extradition order in May was processed, the alleged drug kingpin went in hiding. Days of violent outbreak in Tivoli Gardens followed as his supporters protested the extradition order. His detention this afternoon comes on the heels of an announcement that the bounty on his head was being tripled from twenty thousand US dollars to sixty thousand while the damages in the violence were put at one hundred million US dollars. Coke’s surrender was reportedly facilitated by Reverend Al Miller, who also played big role in the handing over of his sister Sandy and brother Leighton.  This amateur video of a breaking news report was posted on the internet shortly after Coke’s arrest.

Jamaican News Anchor

“We understand that Mr. Coke was apprehended somewhere in Portmore. We believe in Dyke Road to be specific. He was caught roughly about half an hour to an hour ago. Our information is that he has been taken into custody and he has been taken to a secure location. Our information comes from senior sources in the police force. The hierarchy of the force, however, is not commenting at this time. When we contacted them in the last few minutes for comment on the capture of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the police hierarchy is not saying anything at this time but we have received confirmation that Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke has been caught. He was caught this afternoon on the Dyke Road and the Dyke Road runs from the end of the Highway 2000 and it rejoins the other section which goes to the Portmore crossway. That stretch of road there is where Christopher Coke was caught. He has been on the run since the police issued a warrant for his arrest after the authority to proceed with the extradition process was signed last month. You would recall the police searched a number of homes in Saint Catherine and elsewhere in Jamaica, former Mayor for JLP in Saint Mary, Hyacinth Knight’s home was searched. The Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie’s home was also searched, homes elsewhere in the city have been searched. The police have been on his trail. The police held conferences a couple weeks ago with Acting DPP Hynes and Lieutenant Colonel also speaking of the fugitive being still on the island. There, of course, were numerous reports that may have fled to other countries but he was caught this afternoon; that fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.”

During the uproar in Tivoli Gardens, a total of seventy-six persons were killed. Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s popularity sunk to the lowest ever and he has been weakened considerably by the debacle since he had originally refused to consider the extradition request.