The story of Jamaica’s Shower Posse Crime syndicate begins with the 70s Street gangs of Jamaica mixed with the Political factionalism and divisions that plagued Jamaica in the 1970s.
At the time, Jamaica was divided between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP). The JLP was seen as more conservative and favoured ties with the United States, while the PNP was seen as more radical and anti-American.
The PNP had close ties to Bob Marley, who was seen as a political figure by many Jamaicans due to his music’s social commentary. However, Marley’s refusal to align himself with either political party made him a target for both factions. This led to an incident in which Marley was shot and injured at his home in Kingston in 1976, just days before he was scheduled to perform at a peace concert organized by the PNP.
It is believed that the leader of the Shower Posse at the time, Lester “Jim Brown” Coke, was responsible for the shooting. Coke was a notorious figure in Jamaica, with ties to both political parties and a long history of involvement in criminal activity. He was known to have been involved in the drug trade, and his involvement in politics made him a powerful figure in the country.
Coke feared that Marley’s performance at the peace concert would give the PNP an advantage in the upcoming elections. He believed that Marley’s message of peace would be interpreted as support for the PNP, and he wanted to prevent the concert from taking place.
Despite being injured in the shooting, Marley went ahead with the concert, and it is credited with helping to ease tensions between the two political parties. However, the incident highlighted the role that criminal organizations played in Jamaican politics and the dangers of becoming involved in these factions.
Coke’s reign as the leader of the Shower Posse came to an end in 1992 when he died in a mysterious fire while in custody at the General Penitentiary in Kingston. Coke was being held on drug trafficking charges and was scheduled to be extradited to the United States to face trial. It is believed that Coke’s death was a result of his knowledge of the involvement of high-ranking Jamaican politicians in the drug trade and other criminal activities.
After Coke’s death, his son, Christopher “Dudus” Coke, took over as the leader of the Shower Posse. Dudus was a charismatic figure who was well-respected in his community. He was known for his involvement in social programs and his willingness to help those in need.
However, Dudus was also involved in criminal activities and had ties to the Jamaican political system. In 2010, he was indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, and the Jamaican government agreed to extradite him.
Dudus refused to surrender to the authorities, and a violent confrontation broke out between his supporters and the Jamaican police. The ensuing gun battle lasted for several days and resulted in the deaths of at least 73 people. Dudus was eventually caught by Jamaican authorities while attempting to flee the country disguised as a woman.
Dudus was extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The Shower Posse’s reign of terror came to an end with Dudus’ capture, but the impact of the group’s activities can still be felt in Jamaica today.
