Trail of death ends with drug kingpin's guilty plea
A reputed Jamaican drug kingpin whose arrest following a massive manhunt
left scores of people dead has quietly pleaded guilty to racketeering
and assault charges in New York, The New York Times reports.
Christopher Coke, 42, admitted Wednesday that he led the Presidential
Click organization that distributed drugs worldwide since 1994. He said
he was involved in the sale of more than 30 pounds of cocaine and 3
tons of marijuana. Under the plea agreement, he faces up to 23 years in
prison at sentencing Dec. 8.
The hunt for Christopher Coke last year led to more than 70 deaths, the Times
says. Before the Jamaican prime minister, Bruce Golding, acted on the
extradition request, Jamaican leaders warned the American Embassy that
arresting Coke could result in civil unrest because Coke was well
fortified and had a measure of popular support, according to a review of
secret State Department cables released by WikiLeaks.AP adds that the pursuit of Coke led to a confrontation in his West Kingston slum stronghold that killed 73 civilians and three security officers over four days of fighting.
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