US agents stream into Jamaica

Move seen as effort to push 'Dudus' extradition

Sunday, April 11, 2010

AGENTS from two American intelligence-gathering organisations have descended on Jamaica in unusual numbers over the last six months in what political watchers believe is a move by the United States to add more muscle to its request for Jamaica to extradite Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

A highly placed source told the Sunday Observer that some of the agents have been given strict instructions to pay close attention to three Government ministers, several members of the security forces, and two major downtown business operators.

Sunday Observer sources say that a batch of 23 arrived in the island during the last three months to complement others already here.

Yesterday, one source with knowledge of the country's security operations said that a significant number of foreigners, believed to be US agents, arrived in the island last Wednesday at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

"The flight arrived before midday," said the source, who added that the agents were posing as tourists, consultants, business executives and other professionals.

According to our sources, this is the latest tactic being used by the USA to have Jamaica extradite Coke, who a New York grand jury indicted last year on drug- and arms-trafficking charges.

Former national security minister Dr Peter Phillips, in an interview yesterday, said he had no way of confirming the number of agents revealed by our source. However, he believes that it would be unusual for such a large number to arrive in one contingent.

"We have always had agents from other agencies and other countries in Jamaica," said Phillips. "I can't confirm the numbers you have suggested, but Jamaica has been co-operating with other countries in the sharing of intelligence and it would not be strange for agents to be here."

According to Phillips, if the agents are operating in an "official" capacity, the receiving country would be informed through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"This is the way it is done, if a sending country perceives full co-operation between itself and a receiving country," said Phillips. "The receiving country is informed because, for those who need to bear arms, permission would have to be granted. So there would be a need to know. And the receiving country would be notified before the agents arrive."

Phillips said agents from the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have operated in Jamaica, dating back several years.

"This is not a new relationship. If there is a view that a country is hostile or unco-operative, they might not even be told about who is present. That information depends on the relationship between the countries," said Phillips. "Under normal diplomatic postings, the foreign affairs ministry would know. But there are no guarantees that if hostility is perceived, that they would inform a receiving country."

He said agents may use diplomatic cover, or they may simply be tourists.

Attempts to get a comment from foreign ministry officials yesterday were unsuccessful.

During the 1970s when the People's National Party administration, headed by Michael Manley, declared itself a democratic socialist government and damaged Jamaica's relations with America, CIA agents were active in Jamaica, fuelling many political fires. Some, operating as journalists, deliberately fed erroneous information to overseas media.

Veteran calypsonian Lord Laro's famous hit Foreign Press captured some of the sentiments at the time. So, too, did Manley in his book Struggle in the Periphery, in which he commented on what he termed psychological warfare and its effects.

Yesterday, Phillips pointed out that Jamaica and the United States, as well as the United Kingdom, have co-operated on many issues, including the sharing of information to track criminals in transnational drug- and arms-trafficking.

In addition, Jamaican security officials have, in the past, been placed abroad in intelligence capacities.

However, Jamaica's relationship with Washington has deteriorated significantly since the indictment of Coke last August, as the Bruce Golding administration has refused to act on the extradition request, arguing that the evidence gathered against Coke was obtained in breach of Jamaican law.

When contacted, a spokeswoman in the DEA Office of Public Affairs in Washington said no one was available to provide information on the number of agents operating in Jamaica.

She referred the newspaper to the local DEA office in Jamaica. However, the Sunday Observer was unable to obtain a contact for that office.

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COMMENTS (21)

Jazz Diamond
4/11/2010

You people need to make up your mind. Agents are always here, so this is not news or not new. This is hearsey, which means that they are not here and this is not true.
Any jackass, who is asking for the paper to name the sources, is, as we say a jackass. Is funny how some of the same labourites who fed information like this and more to media before the election are now deadly afraid of comment when they are contacted.
No reputable newspaper conjure up ideas, write stories and run with it.
So I ask this, which entertainers were lighting fire (bun out) US at the birthday party. What happen to dem? How did that information filter to where it should?
The informant in the case against Buju was paid US$3 million (J$270 million). or US$5,000 Jamaicans would sell their mothers.
Why pay US$3M when you can use US$100,000 and pay 20 people and spread them across the island to get info. Many of you are under the impression that the US is only interested in Duddus?
That is why the grand jury that indicted Coke was not disbanded, because it was hoped that, his extradition would lead to more fishes. That is the grand jury probing the Manatt Phelps Phillips affair.
Are you connecting the dots yet?
Agents operating 'lawfully' will come under the ministry of foreign affairs, of cource.
But, those whose presence the agencies will deny, will they tell you that we have 100 agents in Jamaica and here are their particulars.
What then would be the use?
C'mom people, you think I want to read about Duddus everyday? It is uncomfortable for all of us.
But, if we can find a judge brave enough to try the case, and a Crown Counsel brave enough to put Jamaica's position based on the Teaty, then we may have a resolution soon.
Until the court decides more dark days are ahead, cause now assets being held in the Us by ordinary Jamaicans is the next target. Watch and see.
This is from an agent.

real southy
4/11/2010

trevor harris.. intelligent modern day people have no use for that stupid saying. bout if it nuh go so it go near so. rubbish
about twice a week the Observer print stories about it sources. do you really believe the CIA and DEA which have infiltrated major organisations and countries across the world would arrive at the airport in Jamaica and some person at the airport know they are agents. please.. just more rumors. its like the story about the boy who cried wolf

Wharf Dawg
4/11/2010

The slow boil of psychological tactics. It is said that knowledge is power, what the US knows is that it has some information on Jamaican authorities and businessmen. What Jamaicans don't know is how much..
That said, the issue of dual citizenship is very much a part of this Dudus request. Can you imagine if the Attorney General was a US citizen in her capacity?
Think about the current Information Minister and allegations made by Mr Brady..
Are we still sure dual citizenship is ok?

John Curious Public
4/11/2010

A highly placed source ?
local DEA office in Jamaica?
Wow.......curious on these two points.
"However, the Sunday Observer was unable to obtain a contact for that office."
I thought one of your highly placed source could at least provide a contact number for any registered foreign agency operating in JA.
I would think a major newspaper would ask the DEA Office of Public Affairs in Washington for that number and an address. At a minimum, try the US Embassy.
JQP.......

trevor harris
4/11/2010

Anancy Bedward "if it go so , is near so it go" Why would the observer which is sympathitic to the Govt be seen as alarmist. Story a come to bump bway.

mike willy
4/11/2010

What a Bam Bam

Marcus James
4/11/2010

If this story is true, the of American towards Jamaica is making Mr Coke look like today's Pablo Escobar or Noreaga. Believe me Mr Coke is not as powerful as they potrait him so I don't see why they sending DEA and CIA here. We can expect Interpol soon base on the dynamics of the situation...haha.. If the Americans approach to the situation was more low profile, Mr Coke would've been extradited from last year. They the Americans potrait Mr Coke as if he is at the epitome of "CRIME" in the Americas is so false. If anything Dudus is getting more powerful with time because of the US and the GOJ handling of the situation. WE ALL CREATING A MYTHICAL LEGEND WITHOUT REALIZING IT!!!!

Anancy Bedward
4/11/2010

Another useless sensationalist headline based on misinformation!! Come on Observer do betta than that!!!

Paul Lewis
4/11/2010

What kind of intelligence agents would they be, if they could not operate without the corrupt Gov't. and Police knowing. There is no need to undertake an expensive covert operation, since a lot of us are willing to sell them the information they need. Just go to the nearest rum bar buy a few rounds, and you will be surprised how much you will come away with, the task would be to " pick sense out of nonsense ". Put a microphone in people's face and they will tell you everything " confidentially ",as long as its the other party who is at fault. We are assuming that " they " dont already know, and have a plan to get who they want. Noriega had more security and didn't last too long, so a large Coast Guard boat (not a ship) would be sufficient.

John Smith
4/11/2010

Rumours and hearsay. It should be no big news that foreign agents are here. I really think the Observer is blowing this thing out of proportion now, with its 'sources.'

Jaye Stone
4/11/2010

I guess the CIA agents carry ID signs and wear name tags, since they want everyone to know they are here...

Jay Brown
4/11/2010

Sound like Hearsay to me.
If these agents where coming in under an official capacity the foreign ministry would have known, and this does not appear to the case.
If that is not the case how could a "source" determine that these "tourist" that came in before midday where USA operatives.
If they are disguised as tourist, how would this "source" which I assume to be local would know,since I would expect a good USA operative to be capable of masking his presence that we would not be able to determine he is a agent.
I am a convinced that we are being fed a bunch of misinformation much like what was said here about the 1970's.
Jamaica is a country that thrives on hearsay and hence stories like these will burn a trail across the country.
Is that the plan ?
We shall see

Nicolas Henry
4/11/2010

JAMAICA OBSERVER and editors.While I want Mr Coke to be extradited, please do not publish speculation and gossip. If you can't name sources do not stir up problems. We don't want no more problems than what we have. One thing I need you to know, although I'm retired from the U.S marines if they need to come for gunmen in Jamaica I will gladly re-enlist to bring true warfare to the thugs that are terrorizing unarmed and most times innocent Jamaicans. I would volunteer for the front lines, just to defend my birth country once and for all.

4/11/2010

We seem to be caught up in our own self importance and the media is fuelling this daily diet of Coke and Bread and Butter. What is the motive? We are a small dot in the whole scheme of things and I submit that it is to continue to keep Jamaicans in fear and failure. If on should go to the far flung parts of the US, Canada, Britain and Australia and utter that Jamaica is having foreign relations problems an unreluctant listener would utter 'who?'. This when you consider that our budget is dwarfed by that of major internatioal corporations, our population is miniscule in comparison to China, Russia and even Cuba. Nuff said

mark jones
4/11/2010

SINCE THE CONNECTION IS PERCIEVED AS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP THEN THIS IS WAY TO GO..
CLEANING UP JAMAICA WILL BE A TUFF JOB BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT

N Manley Blythe
4/11/2010

I'm sorry Observer but this is gossip journalism. You can do better. Nothing you have said is a presentation of fact. If your intention is just to stir the pot then you have done so. I expect better from you though, where's the meat and dumplin?
There is a "Ten Thousand Man March" to protest against dons gangs and gun-idiots, arranged by church leaders and scheduled for Spanish Town today. Why no coverage?

george watson
4/11/2010

As Yogi Berra would say, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Shortly after the Manley government took power in the 1970’s the price of oil went through the roof and sent the world economies into a tailspin. Recently people have been saying that now is the worst the world economy has been. THAT IS A LIE perpetuated either by people who are too young to know, or people like the Thinker who IS deliberately trying to mislead. Manley also announced democratic socialism and expelled U.S. Ambassador deRoulet from Jamaica, declaring him persona non grata.
The island fell out of favour with the U.S. and the country swarmed with CIA agents who destabilized the country at every turn, WITH THE ACTIVE CO-OPERATION OF THE JLP who saw it as their means of returning to power.
Now shortly after the JLP returned to power the world economies also went into a tailspin and the JLP has lost favor with the USA over the extradition of Dudus and the country is once again swarming with CIA agents.
It will be instructive to see how the PNP behaves in this latest turn of events. My bet is that the PNP will behave responsibly and will not seek to capitalize on it, but to just seek the truth like the rest of us.
We want to know who the rats are in the country, be they PNP, JLP or no P’s at all. So we welcome this latest “delegation” LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. Also we want to know who the policemen and the businessman are. For too long we have been behaving as if it is ONLY the politicians who are corrupt AND HIDE BEHIND THIS CLOAK WHEN WE WELL KNOW THAT CORRUPTION is more pervasive than the air we breathe.
Thank you Big Brother. Long may you live and prosper
TIME LONGER THAN ROPE. DEAL WITH IT JLP NOW THAT THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT.

Neville Silvera
4/11/2010

Mr Golding and his pals must count themselves lucky that "change has indeed come to America". A so-called "kinder, gentler" president would have taken more direct steps by now.
Meanwhile, the "Lovebird" flutters, headless, under the bucket while splinter airlines begin to eagerly drink the very lifeblood from it.
Meanwhile the purveyors of verbal filth (the greater percentage of our reggae artistes) refuse to see the sense in cleaning up their acts. Their arrant bullheadedness is getting unfavourable attention in country after country.
Meanwhile there is no water in the land of wood, so the good prime minister is trying to sell the National Water Commission.
Meanwhile Jamaican people across the world want to come back home but are scared of the blatant lawlessness they face. They wonder out loud why the army is not brought to bear down on the rascal multitude.
We need to declare open warfare on crime. We can no longer take pride in being the wickedest country on earth. Those gory days should remain in our past.
Those people who demonstrate and complain when criminals are taken out need to ask themselves how many more children and other innocent people need to be abducted, raped, maimed, maligned and killed before they stop the nonsense.
While all this is going on, our good government has put up legitimate business people and well thinking family members to ransom. This is almost like when the jews chose Barabas over Jesus.
.....I am hearing the low hum of a dirge being sung for the death of the first one-term government in the history of the nation....
One can only hope that the opposition is taking heed and making ready.

CTETE AGENTA
4/11/2010

Seems like the U.S is not taking this issue as simple as the government want us to believe.

angel pin
4/11/2010

JAMAICA IS NOT GRENADA. JAMAICA IS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY. CAN JAMAICA SENT THEIR AGENTS TO AMERICA. MR PRESIDENT DONT LET US START FINDING ANY FAULTS WITH YOU

james wood
4/11/2010

Come on Observer, report something that is new. They have always been here.

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