BUJU HAD HIS DAY IN COURT

DEA Daniel McCeaffrey, who gave evidence on the first day of the trial at the Gibbons US Federal Court in downtown Tampa, said there was no evidence that Buju Banton — whose real name is Mark Myrie — received any money from any drug deal.

He also said even though he was investigating Banton for a year, he could find no evidence that the artiste had collected any money from drug dealing.

David Markus, Buju's attorney, said that artiste would waive his right not to testify. He said his client's big mistake was that he loved to talk. Markus said Myrie met DEA informant Alexander Johnson, a Colombian national, on a flight from Madrid Spain to Florida last year and during conversation Johnson introduced the subject of drug dealing to him.He said Myrie had in fact tasted cocaine but that did not qualify him as a drug dealer.

Markus also argued that Myrie did not know about the US$130,000 that his co-defendant James Mack had been held with. The money he said was given to Mack by two men identified as 'Ike' and 'Tike' from Atlanta, Georgia.The attorney said Mack and Ian Thomas were the ones who were dealing drugs and said his client made a decision not to partake in any deal and went to his Tamarac home in Florida, where he was arrested in December last year. Mack and Thomas have taken plea deals and have agreed to testify against the artiste.

"He said Myrie had in fact tasted cocaine but that did not qualify him as a drug dealer."...true staement but why  Buju why a RASTA MAN a taste coke Buju? Mi a pray fi u from last night n yes the DEA foot inna him mout but di taste coke part hav me a way bossy naa lie. U a guh come a road still mi bredda but I hope u learn from this. Jah naa give u more than u can bear but u know him haffi beat u likkle so just gwaan hold the faith till him satisfied okayyyy...Jah Bless n keep u safe!!!!