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

[rodney "trinidad"]

I think that these people has been out to set buju banton for the fall,
there are so many other cases, but they choose to pin point buju banton.
shame on the americans who wants to destroy buju banton.
read this you so call americans who are filled with hate towards a black man
"any weapons form against buju banton shall not prospher"
buju my brother, trust in GOD and not in man, when you get out of this mess
don't return to America,

[john]

he is so foolish,He should know better

[Tracey Hicks]

Buju should have know better he a rolemodel to so many children across the world and it make me sad when we seen a promising artest like himself become involve in such foolish thing.
Still praying for you
Tlh
Boston

[leon]

buju is a man speaking about what he believes in if he is guilty for that then none of us should open our mouths if he is guilty for trying to buy cocaine then he should do the time for the crime its simple

[the great one]

leave the ras alone why set up the rass jah know the rass a fi free

[k]

o what a mighty n dread buju keep the faith we love you

[revelation]

i wanted to know why you americans can't get over the fact that it's a cultural manner for us jamaicans not to participate in any gay practices or activities. i'm praying for buju banton god will set him fee, because he sing boom bye bye that's what they trying to deteriorate him. but keep the faith buju it's the nation an god who will set you free.

[cochisejosephs]

free up buju

[yvens]

Buju may jah bless you don't worry God we get you out of this we will prays for you one love

[Brandon]

I agree with the majority, this seems like a sketchy foney situation. Buju a rasta, he has songs downpressing coke ALONG WITH SONGS AGAINST MURDERERS. i would overstand a sensi charge but cocaine. . i don't think it is right. If it's true, then i'm really disappointed that buju fell into babylon. However, if the gays have enough power to cancel just about any show that comes to the U.S., I wouldn't be surprised if they managed to get him for a fake drug charge. Gays have constantly harassed Buju for the last 18+ years for expressing his beliefs. Do u think that muslims and islamics arent downpressed by all americans constantly because of all the 9/11 attacks? Buju is entitled to his own opinion along with the gays. It's simply his spirtitual and religious thought and opinion that being homosexual is wrong, selfish, and a slap in The Most High's face. Sex is not for personal pleasure, and people forget this, but it is God's way of keeping the human race alive and reproducing. I say let Jah judgement come for the batty boys and what comes will come.

Stay up and hope to see you soon. Only I and I overstand Buju. Jah bless!, stay one with the most high, no one can escape His judgement

[Abdullah Aziz]

I hope that anti gay fascist gets life without parole.

[libraborn]

THIS IS A SET UP WHY DO THEY ALWAYS TRY TO BRING DOWN A BLACK BROTHER,FRIST WAS JAH CURE NOW IS BUJU ALL MY LOVE BUJU JUSUS BRING U THIS FAR AND HE WONT SEE U SUFFER.

[TROY]

don't worry buju everyone in fullersfield westmoreland is praying for YOU just be goood for a little while ok. jah bless always just hole the faith till jah say "FREE THE RASTA" TROY

[rossta]

Free up the general!!
Same ting agwan with Jah Cure and so many other crucial artists in reggae music. Rasta na deal with no chokebrain business! This has nothing to do with anti-gay actions, when Buju was last out in Boulder the Gay and Lesbian movement protested his show which banned him from the city, but what is funny is what was said by Buju inside the show that its not a physical killing to the wicked, moreover its a lyrical fire that will burn all those it touches! Ask yourself why a federal agent would want to all the sudden set up Buju? Its not like he was caught buying chokebrain on the street, he was set up from the get go! Pure conspiracy from the start! The conquering Lion shall break every chain! including the federal babylon chains! Free up the general!

[narine]

this is not a drug thing, this is a gay things,and i know it, and you know it too.

[Jahsent]

I wonder why Rasta are always been acuse of things which they know nothing about.I see it clearly that its because of his grammy award thats why people are puting false acuses on him.BUT NOTHING CAN STOP RASTA!

[KAZ]

YOU CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE SOMETIMES BUT YOU CANT FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME !!!

QUESTION: HOW IS IT THAT THEY SAID THEY ARRESTED BUJU BANTON WITH 2 OTHER MEN BUT YET WE HEAR NOTHING ELSE OF THESE MEN THEY ARE FOCUSING ONLY ON BUJU BANTON???

THIS IS A PLOY TO STOP HIM FROM RECIEVING HIS GRAMMY IN PERSON

STIFF NECK IS FOOL THEY THINK THEY ARE COOL TO DENY BUJU BANTON ONE SIMPLICITY RELEASE DE MAN GIVE HIM BACK HIS ONE AND ONLY RIGHT WHICH EVERY ONE IS ENTITLED TO AND THAT IS TO BE FREE, FREE TO SPEAK ,FREE TO WALK FREE TO SEE AND SAY WHAT HIM SEE FROM WHEN WAS THAT A CRIME? STOP USING LITTLE PLOYS TO TRY AND STOP HIM HE IS DOING OUR MAJESTY FINE AND DANDY WORK HE IS THE VOICE OF THE MOST HIGH.

[Bajangirl]

Wow this is straight crazy, for as long as i have been listening to Buju i have never hear of him dealing with cocaine now ou the blue he is arrested for it i dont believe it.. Buju your in my prayers

[debbieminto]

buju hold the faith god god went through more dont give up

[Gail Bacchus]

Sorry that Buju get cought up in something like this. I am a fan from way back in Georgetown, Guyana. Hope things work out for Buju.
one love

[Lea Rasta]

Shocked by the news!

Info or intox?! I trust intox ...

I love Buju ... I hope he will be freed soon.

Keep the faith Buju. We love you and you surely shall be missed at the Salute.

Lea Rasta

[gallah]

watch his video, called driver number 1.

[shawn bates]

This is nothing to do with drugs cos buju would never do that unless he's mentally ill. These gay rights people have been on the mans case for a long time like vampires at a blood bank cos of a song he made as a teenager. as far as i know being gay is illegal in jamaica & there is freedom of speech in places like america, furthermore buju hasn't actually hurt anyone. Leave him alone & find something better to do. there are many real evil people in the world like the one's who are trying to set him up. god please take control of this mess.

[shawn bates]

I dont think he did it, just doesn't make sense at all, if he did maybe somethin's goin on behind the seen we dnt knw about. anyway he's a great artist no matter wot. i understand he apologised 4 the song years ago but it was a popular song back then & there are fans who still want to hear it 2day. but i think the people who are after him are bringing a song that was largely 4gotten and in a way are making buju more popular as well as the fact that they're trying 2 destroy the man. wot happened 2 freedom of speech. black people & others of colour have been killed for years around the world just 4 existing but nothing is being done about that. next u'll be tellin me they're gonna lock every1 up 4 listen 2 music, get real!. by the way i dnt advocate killin any1 but the bottom line is buju is not a bad guy so give the man a break.

[JAHSON]

It is against everything His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I JAH RAS TAFARI has always taught through his teachings. I don't want to believe that Buju could do such a thing but only JAH know. We have already lost the "Prince" Dennis Brown over his use of cocaine. Why such huge role models turn towards Babylon when they preach an Ital way of Life? Stand Firm in everything and show the youth the truth."Only the fittest of the fittest shall survive." All praises to H.I.M.