(Jamaica Observer) Foreign Affairs Minister Kenneth Baugh on Thursday confirmed that the US Government has formally requested the extradition of influential Tivoli Gardens don and businessman, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.
“The Government has been notified and discussions are taking place. It is principally the prerogative of the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s office,” Baugh told the Observer.
Extradition requests are first sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which must pass them on to the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General. The documents eventually end up on the desk of the Director of Public Prosecutions who will rule if arrest warrants must be drawn up. Coke is allegedly wanted on drug trafficking and conspiracy charges.
Prominent attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, who has represented Coke and his family in the past, told the Observer on Thursday that he had no idea what his client was wanted for as Coke had no connections with the United States.
“I don’t know what they want him for. I don’t have any access to the documents yet,” Tavares-Finson said.
Tavares-Finson also said he was not sure if Coke would turn himself in.
Under the Extradition Treaty, accused persons do not have to sell illicit drugs in the US to be convicted in that country.
In January, Norris ‘Deedo’ Nembhard, who was extradited to the US in July last year, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in a Florida court.
Nembhard had contended that he had never travelled to the United States but was convicted on the evidence of a man who claimed to have been trafficking drugs for him and other persons.
