Senior policeman details early 'plan' to arrest Dudus in 2009

A high-ranking policeman today admitted at the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry that local law enforcement authorities had contemplated what is described as a soft detention of drug kingpin Christopher 'Dudus' Coke in August 2009.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Glenmore Hinds, said the consideration was given after word leaked that the United States was about to request his extradition.

Hinds also explained that at the time the 'soft detention' plan was developed, Coke was a person of interest in an abduction case that was being investigated by the police.

He said the soft detention would allow them to detain Coke on that matter in anticipation of the extradition request.

Hinds said the plan was finalised in January 2010 and jointly involved the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Organised Crime Investigations Division, Narcotics Division and 'Operation Kingfish' with support from the Jamaica Defence Force.

In the meantime, DCP Hinds said leading up to the police operation in West Kingston, residents refused to leave the community in the buses provided by the security forces, because they did not trust the police.

The security forces had provided the transportation ahead of their intervention in the community to nab Coke.