Jamaican police are aware that Danhai Williams is not in Jamaica, but are insisting that they would like to speak with him in relation to ongoing moves to dismantle gangs and cut crime.
Williams, a known supporter of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), has strong ties to East Kingston, his base as a businessman.
However, Williams has been domiciled in the state of Florida, USA, at least since the latter part of last year, those close to him revealed.
“He has been in the Miami area and hasn’t been to Jamaica in a while,” one of Williams’ friends told the Sunday Observer.
The nature of Williams’ stay could not be determined, and it was not clear whether or not he held United States as well as Jamaican passports.
Local police are nonetheless prepared to wait on Williams until he gets here to face a panel of interviewers to see if he is in any way connected to organised crime.
“We are aware that he is outside of Jamaica, but he is still a person of interest to us,” the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s acting deputy commissioner in charge of operations Glenmore Hinds told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
“We are not telling him how to alter his travel plans, but once he sets foot in our jurisdiction then we would be interested in speaking with him,” Hinds said.
Williams is one of several high-profile persons whom police say they are interested in discussing their possible role in irregular activities.
Several so-called area leaders, known also as dons, have voluntarily surrendered to police, who put out national appeals urging them to turn themselves in for questioning in relation to a range of crime-related issues.
Among them are some involved with alleged West Kingston drug lord, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who is wanted by police.
Coke, 42, the reputed leader of the infamous Shower Posse, which unleashed a reign of terror on thousands of people, killing an estimated 1,600 during the cocaine wars in North America in the 1980s, has been on the run since a warrant was issued for his arrest to attend an extradition hearing over two weeks ago.
He is wanted by United States authorities to answer drug- and gun-related charges.
Unlike Coke, Williams is not wanted by local authorities. Unless police can cite him with specific breaches of the law, it is unlikely that a warrant will be issued for his arrest and an extradition process started.
Word reaching the Sunday Observer is that Williams was, among other things, working with certain officials in the United States on “a matter of international significance”, according to one source.
“He is not hiding and is operating normally,” the source said.
Another source said that local police had little information that could be used against Williams, but were “merely going through the process to ensure that there was transparency”.
“The police seem to be asking all the dons and area leaders to come in for questioning. They don’t want to make it appear that there is any kind of bias, whether political or social bias, so they are going ahead with their plan,” the source said.
Among the persons who have already turned themselves in are Justin O’Gilvie, Coke’s business partner and confidante; Leighton ‘Livity’ Coke, brother of Dudus; and Sandra ‘Sandie’ Coke, his sister.
Police are also questioning known PNP supporter George Phang, and are interested in interviewing PNP candidate in the last general election Rohan Silvera.
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