At least 73 people have been killed in pitched battles as Jamaican security forces continue to search for an alleged drug trafficker wanted by the United States. Most of the dead, officials say, are civilian supporters of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the reputed drug kingpin, who is regarded as a folk hero in the poor areas of Kingston, the island nation’s capital. The city was relatively quiet Thursday, but officials fear a renewal of violence.
The United States is seeking extradition of Mr. Coke, who global drug enforcement officials say is the leader of a gang that imported Colombian cocaine into Jamaica and then shipped it to cities along the U.S. East Coast. U.S. officials, in fact, call him one of the world’s most dangerous drug traffickers and have sought his extradition for almost a year. Until this week,, though, he appeared untouchable.
Mr. Coke — and other Jamaican drug dealers — have long appeared to have close ties to Jamaica’s elected officials. Their popularity with the people and their ability to deliver votes make them allies of those in power. Indeed, Jamaican Prime Minster Bruce Golding refused to honor the U.S. request for Mr. Coke’s extradition for nearly a year. When he was compelled to do so by events in Jamaica, violence erupted as the drug lord’s loyalists sought to protect him from capture.
The resulting street fighting paralyzed Kingston. Schools, other public facilities and many businesses closed. The running battles occasionally closed access to the airport and threatened to throttle the lucrative tourist trade that is a mainstay of the island’s unsettled economy.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of State said Thursday afternoon that the department’s alert to avoid travel to Jamaica remained in effect. The alert — one step down from a full travel warning — advises U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Kingston and surrounding areas because of violence in the country. With thousands of Jamaican troops and police continuing the search for Mr. Coke, the possibility of new violence. That’s the reason for the travel alerts from the United States and other Western nations, including Britain.
Though visitors to the popular tourist destination have not been targeted so far, U.S. officials say the situation is so fluid that widespread violence could reoccur and expand to other parts of the island and possibly, if unintentionally, affect travelers. The department also said that U.S. citizens currently visiting or working in Jamaica should monitor news reports before leaving their homes or hotels. The State Department does not issue alerts lightly. They should be heeded.
The gun battles in Jamaica might surprise those more familiar with the island’s carefully honed image as an idyllic vacation spot than its reputation as a place where those who traffic in drugs hold considerable authority. The violence is a painful reminder to Jamaicans and the world of the corruptive power of the illicit drug trade.