Jamaican police say they have arrested suspected drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke on the outskirts of Kingston.
He was detained at a roadblock on Tuesday accompanied by Rev Al Miller, a preacher who said Mr Coke was going to the US embassy to hand himself in.
The government wants to extradite him to face US drug and gun trafficking charges. His case has shed light on the links between politicians and gangs.
Attempts to capture him in May led to clashes in which scores of people died.
The 41-year-old 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.
Mr Coke faces life in prison if convicted on charges filed against him in New York.
He insists he is a legitimate businessman and enjoys the support of many impoverished Kingston residents who see him as a benefactor.
‘Secure facility’
Following his arrest at 1600 (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, Mr Coke was taken to a nearby police station, where crowds quickly gathered as news spread. A military helicopter was later used to move him to an undisclosed location.
Jamaican Police Commissioner Owen Ellington said in a statement that Mr Coke had been arrested by policemen “acting on intelligence” at a vehicle checkpoint along the Mandela Highway.
Around the police station where he was initially taken, there were crowds of people and there were real security concerns.
He was taken to a secure facility because the police did not want people to take the law into their own hands and try to take him out.
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More @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/latin_america/10386028.stm
As for Mr. Coke, my mother and other Jamaicans who knew the man tell a different story. He was no drug dealer and is a business man like he proclaims. According to my mother who visits Jamaica regularly, on the block where Mr. Coke operates, there are no violence or robbery. People are generally more civil towards each other and they feel protected by Mr. Coke. If a store is robbed in the vicinity of Mr. Coke, the robber, though not killed is dealt with differently. Thus, for some Jamaicans who knew the man, this is a USA governmental conspiracy against, Mr. Coke, for transforming the lives of many impoverished Jamaicans. Maybe the USA was worried that the good impact Mr. Coke was having on the lives on Jamaicans in his area would spread to other “ghetto” areas in Jamaica. As we all know the last thing the West want to see are majority black countries enjoying a life of less poverty, peace harmony and education.