Reward posted for arrest of ‘Dudus’

(Jamaica Observer): The police have placed a US$20,000 bounty on the head of fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who is wanted in the United States to answer charges related to drugs and gun-running, the Jamaican police have said. The reward is the latest effort on the part of the police and the Jamaica Defence Force to capture Coke, 42, who fled his West Kingston community base of Tivoli Gardens on May 24 when law enforcers moved in to capture him. "The police would like to find Coke to execute a warrant of arrest issued by the Courts of Jamaica for him to face extradition proceedings," readthe statement from the constabulary’s director of the communication Karl Angell.

The statement also called on persons who knew where Coke was hiding to contact Operation Kingfish at 811, Crime Stop at 311 and Police Control at 119 with the relevant information.

The arrest warrant was issued a month ago, but Coke has been successful in eluding a tight dragnet set up by the security forces, although those close to him, including his brother Leighton ‘Livity’ Coke, sister Sandra ‘Sandie’ Coke, along with business partner and confidante Justin O’Gilvie have all turned themselves in, something that several prominent Jamaicans have appealed to the fugitive to do.