JAMAICAN KINGPIN CAUGHT NEAR CAPITAL

A Month After the Bloody Siege of Tivoli Gardens, Police Arrest Accused
Drug Lord Who Faces a U.S. Extradition Request

Jamaican authorities captured accused drug lord Christopher "Dudus"
Coke at a checkpoint outside of Kingston, ending a monthlong manhunt
that pitted residents against soldiers and left more than 70 civilians
dead. Mr. Coke, 41 years old, is wanted on drug- and arms-trafficking
charges in a New York district court and faces a U.S. extradition
request. Police said at a news conference Tuesday that Mr. Coke was
handed over to authorities by the Rev. Al Miller. The Rev. Miller said
on a local radio program that he was taking Mr. Coke to the U.S.
Embassy when his car was stopped at a checkpoint, possibly indicating
that Mr. Coke had intended to give himself up to authorities.

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said the embassy is closely following the
reports of Mr. Coke's arrest.

A U.S. attorney for the Southern District in New York said "we look
forward to working closely with the Jamaican authorities to bring Coke
to justice."

Capturing Mr. Coke took a heavy toll on Jamaica's capital, Kingston.
But it could mark a turning point for the island nation where drug
lords have seized power from politicians in recent years.

Last month, Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding issued a warrant for
Mr. Coke's arrest and sent police into Mr. Coke's Kingston stronghold,
Tivoli Gardens, to find him. But residents loyal to Mr. Coke fought
back against security forces with arms that may have been provided by
Mr. Coke himself. By the time authorities took control, Mr. Coke was
nowhere to be found. Strongmen like Mr. Coke have been seen as a
growing threat to law and order in Jamaica since the 1980s. Known on
the island as "dons," they control neighborhoods in the capital and
outlying areas through distributing food, gifts and managing local
justice.

Over decades they have emerged as political kingmakers, too, being
counted on by Jamaican politicians for votes. Mr. Golding has
portrayed his decision to arrest Mr. Coke as a first step in a larger
war against organized crime.

Earlier this month, Mr. Golding's government was tallying victories in
the siege on Tivoli Gardens, which they say put a dent in crime.

During the operation, more than a dozen other dons surrendered to
security forces, the government said. But the violent siege was
unpopular with Jamaicans and prompted a no-confidence vote in
parliament, which Mr. Golding narrowly survived. Residents of Tivoli
Gardens say unarmed individuals were killed by security forces,
allegations the government says it is investigating. Mr. Coke's father
is said to be one of Jamaica's most powerful men. Raised in Kingston
in the 1970s, he went by a number of nicknames, according to his grand
jury indictment, including "General," "President" and "Shortman." His
father, known by the name Jim Brown, is believed to have founded a
drug gang called the Shower Posse, which operated both in Kingston and
New York. After the senior Mr. Coke died in jail in 1991-also facing
an extradition request-authorities say his son took over the business
Authorities say Mr. Coke left Tivoli Gardens prepared for battle.

Security forces collected numerous assault rifles, improvised
explosive devices and closed-circuit televisions to monitor intruders.

His supporters had also dug underground tunnels and had their own
police uniforms, they said. The government says it has fully disarmed
the neighborhood and is working to reestablish order there.