Wanted Jamaican druglord surrenders

Jamaican druglord Christopher "Dudus" Coke surrendered to the authorities outside Jamaica's capital Kingston, according to media reports Wednesday.

Coke, 42, is wanted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, but he is also hailed by many residents as a Robin Hood figure. Known as "President" to the people of his slum, Coke served as community leader and enforcer in the gritty neighborhood in an area that the government acknowledges it has long neglected.

At least 73 people were killed when Jamaican security forces stormed Coke's stronghold of the impoverished Tivoli Gardens slum last month.

Coke escaped the nearly week-long assault, but the unrest left downtown Kingston deserted for days, and trapped many people in their homes with no food and water, as gun battles raged on the capital's streets.

The Jamaica Observer reported that Coke is being held at Spanish Town police station in St Catherine. He faces life in prison if convicted on the charges in New York.

In recent days, Jamaica's government offered a 60,000-U.S. dollar reward for information leading to Coke's arrest.

Source: Xinhua