It took weeks to accomplish and caused a complete upheaval of the island nation, but this afternoon, Jamaican police announced that they have caught Christopher Dudus Coke. At a press conference in Kingston this evening, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington confirmed that Dudus was arrested by police at a checkpoint about 15 minutes outside the capital city late in the afternoon. Police were acting on information received and Dudus was accompanied by the island's ombudsman. He has been transferred from the St. Catherine's Province to an unspecified secure facility. According to international news reports he is prepared to waive his right to an extradition hearing.
ABC news in the United States reports that the DEA Air Wing is standing by and once it is clear that Coke will be turned over to U.S. authorities by the Jamaicans he will be transported to the Southern District of New York where he is under indictment. ABC further reports that Coke's attorney contacted U.S. authorities yesterday advising that Coke was considering turning himself in to the U.S.
The Jamaican government had offered a 60 thousand dollar reward for information leading to his arrest. His arrest comes nearly a month after 73 people were killed during a four-day assault by Jamaican police and soldiers on the West Kingston area of Tivoli Gardens, which is Coke's base.
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