Jamaican Police Declare State of Emergency in War With Drug Lord
Jamaica agreed to extradite drug boss Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to the US last week. His supporters said they'd fight to protect him, and barricaded themselves in a housing project. Now they've attacked police and set fire to a police station.
The state of emergency, which covers the West Kingston and St Andrews districts of the capital Kingston, Dudus' strongholds will, according to the BBC, last a month. Coke, 41, who's also known as 'short man' and 'president', claims he's a 'community leader' rather than a drug boss. Others paint a different picture, again according to the BBC:
The US Justice Department says he is one of the world's most dangerous drug barons. He is accused of leading a gang called the Shower Posse and operating an international smuggling network.
The gang has also been blamed for numerous murders in Jamaica and the US.
The police, via the Jamaica Observer, claim he's shielding himself with the women and children in the Tivoli estate and accuse him of cowardice.