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News
Police detain 8 in another Coke search
BY PAUL HENRY Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, May 31, 2010
THE police yesterday detained eight persons, some described as extremely close to Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, as they shifted their focus to the more affluent communities of St Andrew in an effort to apprehend the man whom United States authorities have described as one of the world's most dangerous drug kingpins.
Coke is wanted in the US on drug and gun-running charges.
Five men and three women were early yesterday afternoon carted away by a joint police/military team that raided the house in the upscale community of Sterling Glades in Kirkland Heights, just hours before.
The men, all wearing white T-shirts or tank tops, were placed on the verandah, their hands bound behind them, as members of the security forces searched the sprawling house.
Inspector Steve Brown of the Constabulary Communication Network said that the police had gone to the premises based upon information that Coke had taken refuge there since fleeing Tivoli Gardens last week during an incursion by the military that resulted in the deaths of 73 civilians and a soldier.
All those detained were of West Kingston addresses and at least one of the men had been detained during last week's raid on Coke's former stronghold.
"We got information that the subject was in the area and came here. But the subject is not here. Two of the persons [here] are very close to the subject and are of keen interest to us," Brown said.
A Honda motor car and several documents were seized from the house, Brown said.
An elderly person and four children were also in the house, which is not owned by Coke, Brown said.
Residents must have been startled when they woke up yesterday morning to see the large contingent of security personnel, who came in a Jamaica Defence Force truck, three sports utility vehicles, a jeep and a pick-up van.
Some could be seen gazing through their half opened doors while others watched from their balconies. At one point, one of the women who was detained got involved in a shouting match with security personnel.
A policeman could be seen using a camera phone to photograph the tattoos of some of the men in the group.
"You see where they are moving into now?" Brown asked rhetorically, before answering, "in the wealthy communities where people mind their own business."
Just last week an operation by the joint police/military forces to apprehend Coke, not far from Sterling Glades, resulted in the fatal shooting of accountant Keith Clarke, the brother of former People's National Party minister Claude Clarke and an in-law of children's advocate Mary Clarke.
The cops involved in that operation have been taken off front-line duty.
 
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5/31/2010
@ Blue Stuart the truth hurts a spade is a spade at the end of the day. Hush that is life, just look and see how these people behave they grudge, rob and kill the people who are more fortunate and successful more than they are.
Where are you more likely to be mugged? upper St. Andrew or down town Kgn. And when people are rod and killed where are the killers from? 99.9% from the slum. Check yourself Blue Stuart.
5/31/2010
So let see, if you happen to know Dudus you will be detained for questioning? I think they are stilll going about this wrong. Would Dudus actually be so fool, as to let all these people know where he is? My mother always said the only secret is the one you keep to yourself. So if I know Dudus I need to be careful because I might be arrested? This is a load of bull. You condem down Town citizens and when they move and live in a upscale community they are not good enough. Too much hate
5/31/2010
@ James Bond...you are such an idiot!!...Have you any idea how many 'ghetto-minded' people live uptown?...I was most upset when I read your comment. Some of the nicest, most decent and respectful people that I know are from 'disadvantaged' areas...then check the uptown 'buttus', who believe their addresses make them god-like...Check yourself, James Bond!!!
5/31/2010
police knows about these big houses long time. finally doing their job.
5/31/2010
have you guys seen the houses that is affiliated to mr coke,and the ones that the people who will die for him lives in. boy a nation of dunce is always and will always be easy to lead
5/31/2010
@cm and James Bond. Do not assume that the security forces were wrong in the case of Mr Clarke. Lets wait and see what comes of it. But Mr Clarke may have been more involved than we are hearing right now. I do not believe that their intelligence was that off. If it was wrong who shot the soldiers who were injured in that incident? Reneto Adams seems to know a lot more than he is saying publicly and I am sure so do other law enforcement officials.
5/31/2010
Adams again! Love him or hate him, but you have respect his experience. If the security forces should take this approach to finding every wanted person, then no doubt we would see a big drop in crime. The security forces should be able to do their work without fear or prejudice, and I think we are finally seeing that now...
5/31/2010
The security force need to go back to tivoli ..
take up the mat from the office floor and look for the escape entrance.
Mr Coke is hidding under ground like Sudum Hussen from Irac.
His hidding place is underground ,same place in tivoli. Think smart officers..put yourself in the criminal's state of mind, where would you hide?
5/31/2010
I must say i have finally figured out why dudus is on the run ...He is obviously a coward and is scared for his life so the question is wont he die like his father in prison ..not if he never goes to prison ..he just needs to avoid capture long enough for his lawyers to get the extradition orders dismissed (made possible because of Bruce) then arrest warrant rescinded, which allows him time to arrange "business" to leave country before USA issues a new extradition request..
5/31/2010
The Government should dispatch its Revenue Agents to investigate payment of taxes by the owner of this property.
Most Teachers, Nurses, Police, Soldiers and other hard working Jamaican Tax Payers will never be able to build a house like that.
Be like the US, who use the IRS to attack the Mafia gangs imprison them and seize their assets.
5/31/2010
Well said Marcus James.
5/31/2010
@chicken Foote : There is an extradition request accompanied with lots of evidence legally obtained that must be pursued in court and outside of court.
The "incursion" must take place un-impeded by the political directorate and the tribal/political ideologues who seek false divisions for political advantage.
Let the Army and Police do their work.
5/31/2010
Well it looks like the Security Forces got the correct vicinity, but incorrect address, My condolences to the family of the deceased.
I wonder if Mr. Coke will be charged with the "DEATH" of the innocent which he caused by running, and having the authorities going after him, just for exerting energy, he should be charged EXTRA.
5/31/2010
@ James Bond..Stop marginalize against what you term "ghetto people" because ghetto people born, grow and reside in "uptown" likewise decent people burn, grow and live in what you termed "ghetto". Ghetto is a state of mind and how you conduct your life and I see many similarities between many people from Cherry Garden and TG. Respect.
5/31/2010
Can someone tell me how many persons were murdered over the weekend? i search both newspapers and there is no mention of any murder unlike other weekends. I wonder why...very interesting.
5/31/2010
When is the incursion expected for Arnett Gardens, Rema, Spanish Town, Dunkirk,Tel Aviv, Southside, Payneland, Seaview, Waterhouse abd many others?
5/31/2010
Job well done at least the informer led the security forces in the right direction. And look where the dirty bastards have gone to reside! against our elite citizens trying to contaminate the whole of Jamaica encroaching of decent people way of life.
What are they trying to do, TAKE THE GHETTO UP TOWN.
Adams told them he has no degree, but hands on expierence for the job and we can all see that. But the corrupt politicians gave him a fight. Victimization and discrimination at the highest.
5/31/2010
You see where they are moving into now?" Brown asked rhetorically, before answering, "in the wealthy communities where people mind their own business."//
Do any ever wonder or investigate where and how the residents of the wealthy communities amassed their wealth? Other than the security forces using the guns, they must also use their brains & investigate and seize any asset earned from any illegal activities. If they register assets in other's names, we should then investigate the titled owner
5/31/2010
Notice that no one was shot in this operation.... To me that shows that the security forces are NOT as blood thirsty as people make them out to be. The other night it APPEARS an innocent man was killed - Mr. Clarke. The difference in that is when the security forces went in they were shot at from another premise. Once bullets start flying everything changes. Police and soilders are human and will react...unfortunately Mr. Clarke suffered because the other men got away.
5/31/2010
Them a lot luckier than poor 63 year old Mr. Clarke. Fortunately the security forces got information this time not "intelligence"
5/31/2010
The in specter sound surprise when he exclaims “You see where they are moving into now? In the wealthy communities where people mind their own business”. Where have the inspector been? The cronies of Mr. Coke infiltrated the richest neighborhoods years ago ,where the live among some of our most upstanding citizens. These days they go into a newly develop pricey areas, buy a plot and build homes after all they can afford to… His cronies abroad are living the same way.
5/31/2010
Pictures of the those suspected to be from Tivoli can be shown but the name of the owner of the house cannot?
This 2 faced type of law is part of our problem - all citizens nust be treated with equal respect or no respect at all.
Name the affluent who employ others to commit crime for which they are the benefactors.
Journalists are acting like those in the ghetto who fear to say anything because of possible reprisals.
No kudos for this type of press.
5/31/2010
Adams on the mark again. It was just yesterday he was reported to have said, search uptown and politician houses.
I say Mr Ellington please bring back Adams as a consultant to the JCF. I believe he could add tremendous value to your crime fighting strategies, now that it seems like politicians no longer dictate how the JCF should be managed and no place is off limits.
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