Dudus in US court

Accused drug lord and former West Kingston strongman Christopher "Dudus" Coke, who spent his first night in a United States (US) lockup is to appear in a Manhattan Federal Court in New York Friday morning where he is expected to be arraigned.

During the hearing, he will be advised of the charges against him, the right to counsel, and the right to trial by jury.

Mr. Coke arrived at an airport in White Plains, New York, Thursday evening to face charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine as well as conspiracy to illegally traffic in firearms.

If convicted on the drugs charges, Mr. Coke, also known as “Presi”, “President”, “General” and “Shortman”, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years as well as a fine of up to US$4 million.

He also faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the firearms trafficking charge and a fine of up to US$250,000.

Assistant US Attorneys Jocelyn Strauber and John Zach are in charge of the prosecution which is being handled by the International Narcotics Trafficking Unit.

Head of an international criminal organisation

The former West Kingston strongman is expected to be assigned legal representation in time for his arraignment Friday morning.

His case has been assigned to US District Judge Robert R. Patterson.

According to a statement issued Thursday evening by the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York, an indictment filed in Manhattan Federal Court claims that since the early 1990's, Mr. Coke has led the international criminal organization, the “Shower Posse” which has members in Jamaica, the US and other countries.

It said, at Mr. Coke's direction and under his protection, members of his criminal organization sold marijuana and crack cocaine in the New York area and elsewhere and sent the proceeds back to the Tivoli Gardens strongman and his co-conspirators.

One of the world's most dangerous narcotics kingpins

The document states as well that he and his co-conspirators also armed the Shower Posse with illegally trafficked firearms.

Mr. Coke has been named by the US Department of Justice as one of the world's most dangerous narcotics kingpins.

The former fugitive was arrested by Jamaican authorities on Tuesday afternoon on the Mandela Highway in St. Catherine following a month-long manhunt.

He waived his right to an extradition hearing Friday morning and was subsequently placed in the custody of the DEA and US Marshals.

A few hours later he was put on a plane which took him to the US.