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

[me]

that is very bad

[Ritchie]

Free up the General !!!!!!!!

[Ritchie]

Black, Anti Gay, Jamaican. This has got conspiracy written all over it!!!!!!
Sad really, especially in this day and age!!!! Wha happen???

[oswin grant]

I'm not sure why mr.banton would want to buy and distribute, considering the negative possibilities,and since he is already established as a star.

[Ernest]

Free the general,the issue is not about Cocain its him because he is Anti-Gay just like me

[ginga]

All i keep thinking is why would a jamaican buy american cocaine im sure everyone knows they make theyre own in jamaica! and as for the gay thing cant a man have an opinion whether its wrong or right , it was only 50plus years ago it was illegal and is outlawed in many parts of the world to this day. like a man earlier said if he is guilty then thats dumb real dumb buying drugs in miami when he could have bought it at home and real rastas dont promote the cocaine trade, but from where im sitting it just seems as a chance to put a mans head on a stick, and if he does get found guilty he will go down in many west indians minds as a martyr, its a shame in the us the biggest promoter of their domcratic doctrine worldwide that a man can be villafied have his name draggged through the mud and his character assinated before he has evan been found guilty in a court of law. thank god i dont live in america hypocracy over democracy the real babylon

[molina]

let buju live

[abubakarr malador]

free banton

[teza b]

bless buju u r the new king of raggae god will c u through

[FREE BUJU]

FREE BUJU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Caleb]

Fire bun the batiman them.them think them set up Rasta.Rasta soon bun them down.and free the man.we shashemene Rastas don't work with no batiman.......

[Rita]

I wasn't going to comment until I read this:

"Very interesting. "Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute..." what kind of charge is that? Was he "thinking" about possessing some coke, and the feds read his mind?"

So true!..Not only was he framed..They also know his intentions, which is great..I hope they use this new ability to fight terrorism..You know, the bigger concern than Buju!

[Poopcan jr,]

Its all a set up but i thnk buju snitched on dudu's coke, en h's tryn 2 sntch on kartel too.

[Annie]

1 LOVE BUJU! GOD HAS UR BACK!

[Jonas]

Is anyone surprised? Charlie Sheen can openly snort pounds of coke while partying with pornactresses...- result...rehab in his own house!. A Rastaman is marginally involved in a drugdeal orcestrated by a DEA-informant... - result...as much as 15 years to life!
American justice is a joke!

[Lorne]

America White race is all about bringing down the black race fot them ah mad since slavery that they could not keep us slaves any more, they are haters on blacks,

[KASSIM]

He's been set up,not till after his death before we know it s another illuminaliti tin