Buju Banton arrested on a federal drug charge [Updated]

First, reggae singer Buju Banton was in the news this month because of his best reggae album Grammy nomination. More on that later.

Now Banton, a Jamaican performer whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, is in federal prison in Miami, the Miami Herald reports.

He's been in custody since Thursday, arrested on a charge of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, a DEA spokesman said.

[Update, 10:27 a.m., Dec. 14, 2009: Banton allegedly attempted to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Miami, the Associated Press reports.

According to court documents, Banton and two others contacted a police informant last week about buying cocaine in Sarasota. Drug Enforcement Administration agents say Banton negotiated the purchase and was observed inspecting cocaine offered by the undercover officer. The other men were also arrested Thursday when they allegedly attempted to buy the drugs.

Banton's record label has not commented on his arrest.]

[Read the Ministry's Dec. 15 follow-up post: "More details emerge in the Buju Banton drug case"]

Why the controversy -- one of many for the singer -- over the Grammy nod for his ninth album, "Rasta Got Soul"? Because of lyrics from the early part of his repertoire that advocated violence against gays -- an idea that's not anywhere close to new in Jamaica.

His reps told the Herald in September that criticism against Banton wasn't valid, because he'd stopped singing the song "Boom Bye Bye" -- but in an October sit-down with members of San Francisco's gay community, one activist saw "little movement on his part."

[For the record, 10:01 p.m., Dec. 13, 2009: An earlier version of this post had the name of Buju Banton's song as "Boom Boom Bye." The song's title is "Boom Bye Bye." Hat tip to commenter Kirby for making sure we get it right./cdz]

Though Banton is being held in Miami, the case in question is based in Tampa, Fla., where he will be transferred.

If convicted, he faces as many as 20 years in prison.

[Update, 9:56 a.m., Dec. 14, 2009: The Palm Beach Post reports that Banton is scheduled to appear today (Monday) in a Tampa court. Positive quotes from Buju at the Oct. 12, 2009, sit-down in San Francisco can be found here. A video of an Oct. 26, 2009, performance including the quote "There is no end to the war between me and (gays)" can be found on YouTube (we can't link directly because of the language involved). Also, here is an example of an unrelated drug trafficking case in which several people were charged with "conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute," for those unfamiliar with the charge.

If more details come out of court today, the Ministry will update again. Thanks for reading and for commenting. We're trying to get all the comments up -- just please comment without profanity.]

-- Christie D'Zurilla

P.S. If you comment, please remember that the Ministry has a zero-tolerance policy on profanity, including using **'s and --'s and other filter-tricking tactics (I'm the filter, so I can figure all that out). Just a friendly warning, in the interest of getting those comments published!/cdz

Photo: Buju Banton in 2006 at the Century Club in L.A. That show had to be moved from the Highlands in Hollywood because of a protest over the singer's anti-gay reputation. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times.

The Ministry has other dispatches with an LGBT or celebrity justice vibe -- just click those links.

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Comments

[rubes]

Something just ain't adding up with this story..... they need 2 elaborate more on his charges and less on his gay comment that took place like 15 yrs ago.. like come on are u serious, BUJU CAUGHT WITH COKE,NOW IF IT WAS WEED THEN THAT'S ANOTHER STORY... BUT I DON'T THINK COKE... SOMEONE OUT THERE IS STILL HOLDING A GRUDGE AGAINST HIM FOR REAL..... IDK Y THIS IS AMERICA EVERYONE IS INTITTLED TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.... AND NOW THAT THIS BLACK MAN GAVE HIS OPINION HE IS GETTING BASHED FOR IT 15 YRS LATA.... UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!

[Johnny Law]

Uhhh... Is this really flying over so many people's heads? The reason the article mentions all of his controversial statements on gays (unless you're OK with advocating throwing acid at them) is because that's the only reason he's known to anybody outside of Jamaica. Why would the Times report on a reggae star caught for drug possession unless his last name was Marley?

[gays mite ban my comment]

a person carrying cocaine is illegal and suppose to be punished. that's the law by man. a person committing homosexual acts is a sin and wrong according to the law OF THE BIBLE!!!! Whoever wrote this article spoke more on Buju being a homophobe than the drug charge. Why is it that you can't freely say you don't like gays but you can freely say you don't like people who don't like gays. This is not land of the free this is land of the gays.

[i-man]

i think this chichi guys think they can win the case against him.Jah surely ah go make a way fo the Buju.

[Sam Kestu]

There's a dual standard here regarding Buju Banton.

For example, it is doubtful that the Recording Academy would even consider nominating a performer or a group for a Grammy award if they had written and performed songs that called for the violent torture and killing of African Americans or Jews.

Buju and other reggae dancehall performers don't just say that "we hate LGBT" people or "LGBT people are dirty, diseased and stink." Many of them are going around and saying "lesbians should be hanged" or "gays should have their throats slit." Buju says "dem haffi dead," they, meaning gays, have to die.

Although he doesn't perform the song much anymore, he has never distanced himself from the song. The hateful song is widely available via Amazon.com downloads and CDs. Buju's name is on the U.S. copyrights to "Boom Bye Bye." Even if, as he claims, he gets no revenues for the song, he benefits from the publicity and notoriety that he gets from the song. It sells other downloads and CDs for him and attracts people to his performances.

If you poke around a little bit, watch a few YouTube videos, you will know for certain that Buju Banton is as homophobic now as he was in 1992.

If he said the same things about others (African Americans, Jews, etc) that he says about LGBT there would be an uproar and there would be hardly a venue where he could perform publicly.

Buju Banton's innocence or guilt on the charges of conspiracy to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine are completely separate from his virulent homophobia. The charges against him are federal charges. LGBT people do not control the federal law enforcement agencies or the courts.

[caliroots]

So if Tiger Woods was arrested on drug charges, an article on that wouldn't mention his other current issues?

Buju is a talented musician. Unfortunately Buju used/uses his stage to incite hatred and violence against others. Go figure in this day and age he gets called out on it.

As for the comment suggesting straight people should unite to rally against the gays... LOL

[CES-1]

Buju, hold the vibe Rasta. This too will pass. Why is this whole article about Bujus beliefs? BUJU made that sine when he was around 14 years old. He has grown up amd mellowed since then. BTW, he grew up in a country where homosexulaity is not accepted, for the most part. You make it sound like if some one doesn't approve of homosexuality, then that's a problem. Everyone on earth does NOT approve of people being gay. Some still consider it a deviant life style. We do not all have to approve. That is our choice. That is our freedom to decide. BUJU is no coke dealer. This is a set up. A cheap one at that. Rasta nah deal coke, Iyah!

CES-ONE
STRONG FOUNDATION
WASH HOUSE MUSIC

[James]

Come on lets be serious 5 kilos of cocaine? ill never believe that... and the same way homosexuals want to make their choices in life is the same way he has a right to not accept it... some homosexuals show they are gay by parading around in OBVIOUS WAYS and some keep it private, is the same way Buju can make a song or keep his thoughts to his self i dont see anyone whose wrong or right ill support him, ill sing the song because theres nothing anyone can do to change it, the song is written in dancehall history and theres nothing anyone can do to change that PERIOD.

[Toni]

This is a set up. Rasta don't deal with coke. something very fishy is going on here.

[paulette]

buju bonton a peace maker not a drug dealer jah bless fre the rasta man let him live in peace from canada

[Thomas]

I hope this ignorant bigot rots in jail.

[RenRen]

Gay people set up Buju....just for that him get arrested...everyone know cocaine is NOT a Rasta thing....

[Kirsten]

Hello..well this is a very sad situations..because not only is Buju Banton one of our TOP reggae artist in Jamaica, he is"my DJ" from "stamina daddy" days to "shiloh" and more.. Let us all remember "innocent until proven guilty" Haters...firstly why bring up the "Boom bye bye" thing.??? this has nothing to do with this, that has been taken care of years ago and he has already handled that situation..seriously it is a song we in Jamaica loved it and will always love it..I play it to this day and it is over 10 years old...what about OUR freedom of expression. If you find it offensive dont listen to it...why, create a whole scene about it..dont come to his concerts then if you are offended..It kills me how the gay society want this and want that done there way all of a sudden and all these rights..just be gay and dont worry about what another country and culture thinks or sings about..THAT IS OUR CULTURE,...mind u I have frenz that are gay, that dance to the same boom bye bye song and other reggae songs that have the same message.They are not stressing it, so why the drama..now the man is in trouble for something COMPLETELY different and that has to be made the main point, what does the gay society and boom bye bye have to do with these charges all you doing is trying to stir up drama..BUJU BANTON is innocent until proven guilty for these drug allegations he is not on trial for Boom bye bye..so there is no need to bring up negative comments about things that were in the past..address the situation at hand...Buju ur fans and friends are here 4 u...we love you NO MATTER WHA and my yhute..yuh ah God bless..big up yuself and gwaan hold tight...yuh wi surface again! ONE LUV

[Charmaine Green]

Buju is just greedy lets us face reality, America have on reason to set him up the man practice what him preach. "Driver don't stop a Tal".

[Tim]

The batty man dem (gay ) finally get Buju, they been after him since he did Boom Bye Bye. Gay and Lesbian setting up the banton.

[Anonymous]

What kind of bogus charge is conspiracy to possess??? I'd really love to know the details to this.... So if I say I'm going to possess drugs and plan on gettin rich by selling them-Is this enough to charge me. (By the way I'm not planning or "conspiring to" purchase any-just in case the Feds are watching.

[D from Canada]

Whether you agree or disagree with his views on homosexuality...is irelevant...if he has indeed been involved with cocaine then he should feel the full extent of the law...but i am highly suspcicious of these allegations....so called journalism as this particular media site claims to be are only focusing on his battle with the gay community...The article reads like this....Buju Banton nominated for a grammy, held in Miami fed custody for "intenet to posess",anti gay anti gay anti gay, anti gay anti gay....Last time I checked selling cocaine or intending to posess cocaine has as much to do with being anti gay and visa versa as much as Windows 7 has to do with Honey Nut Cheerios.

[Sunshyne]

"Conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute..." interesting charge. Did they listen to the song "Driver" and jumped to that conclusion? But in being fair, I will have to wait until they elaborate on the charges and evidence.

And the man doesn't like gays, as some don't like blacks, hispanics, abortion, and on and on and on. America's freedom of speech is only in favor of those who speak what America wants the masses to hear!

[Black Widow]

What happened to freedom of speach? This is a constituational law! Ok, some are offended, he appologized but an appology doesn't change a persons personal view. Especially, if you were raised with certain views and out looks on race, religion, and sex.
As for his drug charge, I truely believe it could be a setup or someone else within the traveling party. Him being convicted of ganjah charges in jamaica wasn't intent to traffic it was possesion. This is on a different level from coke!

[Empress Alesha]

Intent? Intent to do what???? I'm so saddened by this news. Buju Banton is a huge star and not in need of money, especially illegal money. This type of behavior goes against everything "Rasta"....It's greed at it's best. So this is why I say "intent to do what"? Why would a huge star like this find it necessary to make money by breaking the law. I'm so dissappointed.

[heather]

This smells like a set-up, they should have done their homework and used weed instead, that would have had more credibility. If anybody in the anti-gay movement looked past their emotional knee-jerk response they would have found out that the song was a social commentary initiated by the brutal assault and rape of a little boy by a man, not a rallying cry to kill off gay people.

[Tony]

Funny the double standards. Can you imagine the outcry if a country western singer sang lyrics that suggested killing Blacks or Hispanics? Or an Arab singer had lyrics that advocated killing Jews?

Yet it is perfectly OK for this guy to spew his venom. Or, to be fair, for hip hop performers to advocate killing police (or "hoes" or Whites whatever group they are targeting that day).

Just odd, that's all, who you can pick on and not pick on.

That said, I'm OK with him using the facility. He's first amendment protected. I'll just NOT frequent the sponsors nor travel to Jamaica, or encourage anyone to travel to Jamaica.

[Freedom fighter]

Set Up? By who?
Rasta?

He's neither rasta nor was he set up.

This idiot homophobe thinks he's the cats pyjamas.

Can't fool the feds.

You can all send him postcards in prison, where he'll be the new 'love-puppy' on his cell block! What a fitting end to an idiot.

This is great news!!

[Tony]

Buju Banton is getting exactly what the Law of Karma is administering unto him… you preach hate – hate will be coming back at ya… so to Mr. Banton and supporters… his words of hatred and a call to kill homosexuals has set a karmic response into motion – cause & effect – any segment of society also has the right to call him out and protest his shows… Buju now has to eat the seeds of hatred he himself planted…I hope he has a GREAT time in prison

[Tony]

It's not ok when you are promoting dead and killing people, in Jamaica ppl will kill you for being gay and noboby will say anything , they will murder you they will cut you in pieces and they will be happy about it, In America you are ok u still discriminated but can still fight, But when u start allowing ppl from jamaica to came here and sing music to stereotype a group, thats not right!!. AMERICA AUTHORITIES OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!!.