US keeping Tivoli Gardens under surveillance

Tivoli Gardens, the tough West Kingston base of Christopher "Dudus" Coke, is under satellite surveillance by United States authorities who are determined to have Coke extradited to answer drug- and gun-running charges in New York, the Sunday Observer newspaper has reported.

According to a security expert with knowledge of the operation, the United States has powerful audio and video evidence of activities involving Coke, as well as several Government officials, including members of the legislature, inside the Tivoli Gardens community centre.

With the use of Satellite Internet Telemetry System (SIMS) similar to that used to record wildlife activities, the United States has captured the make, colour and plates of vehicles entering and exiting Tivoli Gardens at specific periods, as well as conversations, the newspaper quoted the expert as saying.

The SIMS, the expert said, is very simple to operate

Coke is wanted by the US authorities for gun running and drug smuggling offenses. The Americans have filed an extradition warrant for the well-known “Don” but the Jamaican government has shown some reluctance in sending him to face the charges, citing uncertainty over the fate of Tivoli Gardens in his absence.

Coke is considered the “boss” of the Kingston neighbourhood, and officials fear that without him around, the area could erupt in violence.

The Goldiong government has cited legal reasons for its decision not to extradite Coke.