Mobs protest arrest warrant for alleged drug boss in Jamaica

Telegraph:

A police officer and a civilian were wounded by gunfire in street clashes and three police stations came under attack in the city, police said. One police station was set on fire after police abandoned it having run out of bullets, they added.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding held an emergency meeting with his cabinet Sunday and issued a State of Emergency for Kingston and St. Andrew.

The government said the state of emergency will last for at least a month.

Trouble began earlier this week in Kingston after the government approved a US extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke, a reputed gang boss and community leader in the Tivoli Gardens district wanted on drug and gun trafficking charges.

Thousands of Coke supporters thronged the streets on Thursday amid police reports gangs in the area were amassing weapons and had erected barricades in the street to prevent Coke's detention, after an arrest warrant was issued for his capture.

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Considered one of Jamaica's most influential and dangerous men, Coke, 42, is the alleged leader of the Shower Posse gang with branches all over the United States, and also heads the Tivoli Gardens community, which Golding represents in Parliament.

The United States accuses Shower Posse members, under Coke's direction, of having sold marijuana and crack cocaine in New York City and other areas of the United States, funnelling profits back to him.

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He has thousands of followers in Jamaica. He sounds like someone who needs to be extradited to the US for trial. It also sounds like he may have numerous co-conspirators in his neighborhood. It will be interesting to see if the government will stand up to those who oppose the rule of law.