UPDATE: Buju Banton appeared in a Miami Florida court yesterday and waived his rights to a bail hearing.  This sets the stage for the reggae superstar to be transferred to Tampa where the case will be tried.  According to the Miami Herald, Buju wore a beige jumpsuit and shackles and spoke only when asked to confirm his name (Mark Myrie) and  the waiver of bail hearing.   Buju's attorney, Herbert Erving Walker III, says that his client vigorously denies the charges.  "Our contention is that this is a tragic misunderstanding. It is the position of Mr. Myrie that he completely, totally, refutes these allegations as untrue and he has never wavered in that. And so it will be the burden of the government to establish that what they have accused him of is in fact true".  Regarding Buju's mood,  ``He's confident he's going to be exonerated.''  and looking forward to  ``getting back to doing what he does, which is make music for the people of the world.''

However, according to an affidavit filed by the DEA, Buju Banton is captured on video surveillance sampling the cocaine.  Allegedly, when Buju and his associates were presented with a sample of the reported 20 kilo package of cocaine, Buju took a knife and "instantly wiped the blade of that knife with his finger and placed that finger in his mouth in what appeared to be an attempt to taste the cocaine."

Buju is pictured here in happier times times this summer at the New Jersey Reggae Festival.

According to the Jamaican Observer, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)  dancehall superstar Buju Banton (aka Mark Myrie) is currently being in jail in Florida.    According to David Melenkevitz, a spokesman for the DEA, Buju  was arrested on a case based in Tampa.   He is charged with intent to distribute cocaine, five kilos or more,"   "Right now he's in custody in South Florida and he'll be transferred to Tampa."

Buju Banton has been touring the United States promoting his Grammy-nominated album "Rasta Got Tour".

Buju Banton has been touring the United States promoting his Grammy-nominated album "Rasta Got Tour".  He is one of my favorite artists and I hope this case is without merit because I don't want to believe any of these allegations.

You know RCS will keep you in the loop on this story...

Posted by: on Dec 17, 2009