Reggae singer Buju Banton was arrested last Thursday, December 10 in Florida on conspiracy to possess and intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to Tampa Bay Online, Banton and some of his companions were imprisoned after trying to buy cocaine from an undercover police. He is facing a maximum 20-year prison sentence for the mentioned charge.
Banton, as said by the DEA affidavit, contacted the confidential informant last Monday, December 7 about a possible cocaine purchase. The next day, he and other men met with the informant at Sarasota`s La Tropicana de Havana restaurant, where the DEA and local police had set up surveillance, Tampa Bay Online reports.
On the day he was arrested, Banton and his companion drove to an undercover warehouse to meet the informant. The building was said to have been outfitted with audio and video recording devices to make the cocaine deal. There, Banton and his companion were shown a car that had 20 kilos of cocaine stashed in secret compartments. After two more meetings at local restaurants between the informant and Banton`s associates, authorities arrested the associates and then took Banton into custody.
As of the press time, Banton reportedly has been held at Miami`s downtown detention center pending transfer to Tampa, where the case is being prosecuted. A bail hearing is set for Wednesday, December 16 in Miami federal court.
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