Wed | May 27, 2026

WEST KINGSTON ENQUIRY: Former army chief says operation was successful

Published:Tuesday | June 23, 2015 | 12:00 AMLivern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
Saunders: "Yes it was a successful operation." He said this was because drug kingpin Christopher 'Dudus' Coke was eventually captured, albeit a month after the operation was launched.

Former Jamaica Defence Force chief, Major General Stewart Saunders, has described  the May 2010 police-military operations in Tivoli Gardens as successful.

That description came as Saunders testified during cross-examination before the west Kingston commission of enquiry.

"Despite the massive loss of life you would say the operation was successful?" asked attorney-at-law Michael Williams, who is representing the Tivoli Committee.

"Yes it was a successful operation," Saunders maintained.

He said this was because drug kingpin Christopher 'Dudus' Coke was eventually captured, albeit a month after the operation was launched.

The operation was intended to execute an arrest warrant on Coke.

More than 74 civilians and one member of the Jamaica Defence Force were killed in the operations that were aimed at arresting Coke.