23 Jun 2010

Jamaica police say drug kingpin captured

6:28 pm on 23 June 2010

The police in Jamaica say they have captured alleged drug kingping Christopher "Dudus" Coke on the outskirts of the capital, Kingston.

At least 73 people were killed last month when Jamaican security forces stormed a Kingston slum in an attempt to take him into custody.

Christopher Coke is wanted for extradition to the United States on drug trafficking and gun running charges.

US prosecutors say he is the leader of the notorious "Shower Posse" gang that killed hundreds of people during the cocaine wars of the 1980s.

He commanded a private militia and was a strong supporter of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party. Jamaica refused initial requests to extradite him last year.