Gun Battle Rages As Jamaican Government Attempts To Arrest Aptronymic Druglord
Wow. Here is a story that seems likely to be made into many raps songs and eventually a feature film. The Jamaican government is trying to arrest a notorious Kingston gang leader for extradition to New York. But he's not going quietly. As the Times reports: "Security forces broke through barbed-wire barricades and fought their way into the warren-like Tivoli Gardens neighborhood Monday afternoon. Sporadic gunfire could be heard into the night echoing across the darkened slums, where authorities cut off power. Military helicopters flying with their lights off buzzed overhead. Masked gunmen swarmed around West Kingston trying to prevent the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who has been indicted in New York on drug and arms trafficking charges. The U.S. Justice Department considers him one of the world's most dangerous drug lords."
Coke's gang is linked to the Labor party, currently in power in Jamaica, and the government had been refusing to act on U.S. pressure to arrest him for nine months. The gang is known as the "Shower Posse" due to their proclivity for showering their enemies with bullets. The government announced their intention to arrest Coke last week, and since Sunday, when the operation started, two police officers and one soldier have been killed. The footage in this ABC news report is crazy. Much more war zone than police procedure.
UPDATE: Willy Staley of the Bay Area rap site Nation of Thizzlam alerts us to the fact that there already is a rap album named after Coke and co. It's from the duo Jacka and Husalah, and it came out in 2006. Proving that the Shower Posse has been notorious for a long time.
DRUG WAR.
You'd think this dudus was Pol Pot.
This is just a warm-up round for some bigger, bloodier shenanigans we can look forward to in another neighbor's yard to our South.
We seek the removal of Mr. Coke to the United States as soon as possible.
HEH.
Srsly, the dude's last name is Coke. That's some hardcore shit.
Misunderstanding. Mr. Coke is actually they mascot Dudus whipped up to ail flagging cocaine sales.
Upon extradition to the United States, Authorities escorted Mr. Coke to an undisclosed location in the Hollywood Hills.
Nice one, Yucko.
It was practically handed to me on a silver tray.
Well, you didn't blow the opportunity.
All right Yucko, this is the last straw.
-snort.-
(no pun intended.)
War Ina Babylon? Screaming Target?
Eponysterical?
Coke's gang is linked to the Labor party
All concerns about failed states aside, the concept of political-party-affiliated gangs is so oldschool, it's almost awesome.
Very "Gangs of New York."
Balls fears lineage with Coke is Labor's knockout blow
sorry, couldn't resist.
Or the current Chicago Democratic Party.
Hm. My friend Becky is going to a wedding in Jamaica soon.
I'm… I'm sure she'll be fine.
WHERE WILL SHE GET HER DRUGS!?!?!?!
I know, weddings sober are laaaaame.
God, the number of things you could start that clause with.
It's fairly all-encompassing.
If she's in a hotel complex, she won't even know she's in Jamaica except for the pseudo reggae Muzak in the elevators.
I hope that this dude ends up being extradited and not "martyred" for the drug/gun/rap music cause. On a serious note, as someone living in inner city Philly when Dudus's daddy was running the crime syndicate, I can say that the greatest fear at the time was Jamaican drug dealers driving through and spraying up the block with their Tek 9's. Dead or alive, however he wants to do it, fuck 'em.
I spent two weeks in Jamaica in 98 with a friend who worked for the embassy/consulate of a European country in Kingston (No glamour, he made about $20K a year). Paradise landscape, the world's best people, but you were warned to always watch your back. I met an acquaintance of his who worked as an top manager of national parks. She always travelled with two bodyguards, since parklands were a major hideout for drug gangs.
But the only scary thing that happened to me was I got bit by a centipede that was under my pillow in a rural B&B, got a whopping infection and learned interesting things about the Jamaican health system. All in all, a great vacation.
They told you to watch your back, and yet you allowed this centipede into your bed? Tsk tsk.
"The Shower Posse?" Really?
i know, i immediately thought of a weird kinky prostitution gang. am i sick?
It's ironic. They actually never shower. That's what they're famous for.
OMG I just saw the 'The Harder They Come' tag.
WIN.
How much research do you think Jacka and Husalah did to come up with the "Shower Posse" name? I can see them huddled together in their 2006-era basement, googling "gang names." Husalah was like, "I'm tryna beat this Metal Gear, yo," and then Jacka was like, "we gotta name this mixtape, son."