Dudus surrenders

KINGSTON – Former Tivoli strongman Christopher “Dudus” Coke is in police custody.The businessman, who had been on the run since the Jamaican government signed an extradition request May 18, was turned over to the police yesterday afternoon.According to the Gleaner newspaper, the Reverend Al Miller facilitated his surrender to the police.The pastor was instrumental in the surrender of Coke’s sister, Sandy and brother, Leighton.The one-month manhunt for Coke stretched from inner city communities in West Kingston to upscale neighbourhoods in St Andrew. Houses of past and present politicians have also been searched, as the quest to find Coke fanned out to rural communities in Manchester, St Mary and St Ann. The Labour Day military assault on Coke’s heavily barricaded Tivoli Gardens stronghold led to bloody clashes which claimed the life of one soldier and 73 civilians. In their bid to find Coke, the police also placed a J$5 million (US$62 500) bounty on his head.Coke is wanted in the United States on drug and gun-running charges. (Jamaica Gleaner)