Popcaan Detained in The UK; Jamaica Government Denies Making Request
International dancehall DJ Popcaan announced his detention in the UK on social media. The Unruly artist shared a tweet from attorney Bert Samuels, claiming that the Jamaican government had flagged his identity, leading to his incarceration at Heathrow Airport.
Popcaan, a dancehall musician, is asking Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness for explanations as to why there are red flags against his name that cause him to be “detained” each time he visits the United Kingdom. The ‘Party Shot’ recording artist’s straightforward request when sharing the Story with his nearly three million followers in a UK airport was “I want to know why.” He then went on to make another appeal to Holness in an effort to get his attention.
Popcaan had already been detained by UK immigration
Popcaan had already been detained by UK immigration in January, so this wasn’t the first time he has publicly pleaded with the Jamaican government over the issue.Â
“I would like to know why someone with authority in Jamaica sent information to England immigration that I’m a gang leader and I got charged with firearms. This is not cool at all from my own country; why do I have to be sitting in immigration for over 3 hours?” Popcaan, whose real name is Andrew Sutherland, tweeted in January. The accusations have been rejected as baseless by his lawyers.Â
Dancehall artiste Popcaan said that the Jamaican government had issued a stop order against the entertainer, who is now being held in the UK. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has made an effort to address claims made by dancehall musician Popcaan that he was detained in the UK as a result of Jamaican police red-flagging him in communications with British immigration authorities. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has denied this assertion. According to the JCF, Popcaan’s travel rights have not been restricted by the Jamaican government since the warning was issued seven years ago.
Popcaan is being charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine in Barbados
According to reports, Popcaan is being charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine in Barbados.Â
The JCF claims that the musician was deported to Jamaica in 2009 after being caught and found guilty of marijuana use in Barbados. The St. Thomas resident was allegedly also detained in Barbados in 2011 for cocaine possession, according to the JCF, which is why the Green Notice was generated.
“Interpol issued a Green Notice about him in 2015 as a result of the detentions and additional information obtained. Interpol later validated the Notice once more in 2018. A Green Notice alerts Interpol members to a traveller’s possible illegal activity in situations where the individual may be viewed as a threat to public safety,” According to a JCF announcement.
JCF went on to say that there are a number of reasons why travellers who have received a Green Notice from Interpol might be subjected to secondary security screening at international airports, all of which are entirely under the control of the local authorities in those jurisdictions, the release said.
“I’m Hon Min @kaminajsmith. we need to know why @popcaanMusic is being held in the UK and being asked to do something by the Jamaican government.”
Minister responded and refuted the claim
The Minister responded and refuted the claim that the federal government had requested Popcaan’s detention. ” There are several reasons why a traveller could be detained, she added, but the government of Jamaica has not requested that @popcaanmusic be held. She continued by saying that she had asked the British Consulate to look into the situation. She has also asked the Excessive Fee to look into the situation as soon as they’re prepared so they can provide advice.
Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs, vehemently refuted any involvement on the part of the Andrew Holness administration in Popcaan’s ongoing incarceration at the airport whenever he tries to enter the UK. “The Home Office confirmed that @Popcaanmusic had been freed. “We further reaffirm that the government of Jamaica did not order his halt and check. We also forwarded a letter from his legal counsel to the Home Office, who may update the public as necessary, “Tweeted the foreign minister.
Popcaan’s lawyer, Bert Samuels, claimed that the Jamaican government had instructed agents to alert authorities to the artist’s excursions to the UK. “Popcaan is being harassed at Heathrow Airport because the Jamaican government has placed a black mark against his name. Can you imagine an artist representing our country with pride and having no criminal record being humiliated abroad because his own nation accuses him of wrongdoing? Tweets from Samuels.
Twitter users disputed Samuels’ account of what happened, but he responded that the UK High Commission had granted the artist behind “Only Man She Wants” a visa, so why would they want to keep him? To the sceptics of my Popcaan tweet: Popcaan enters the UK with a visa that the UK granted. Would the UK have issued a visa if they had a problem with him? If they later found a problem, would they cancel the visa? Who is acting stupidly here, then? Tweets from Samuels.
Popcaan's attorney asserts that the JCF's claims are defamatory
Popcaan’s attorney asserts that the JCF’s claims are defamatory and intended to undermine his client’s reputation in a time of great need.Â
Popcaan will file a lawsuit against the Jamaica Constabulary Force, according to the artist’s lawyer-at-law Bert Samuels, for allegedly giving British officials “fake information” that resulted in Popcaan being held each time he entered that nation. Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels is demanding that the police retract a statement stating that his client was detained in Barbados in 2011 for cocaine and issue an apology; failing to do so could result in a libel lawsuit. The police have until Thursday at noon to comply, according to the senior attorney, failing which he will file the claim.
Samuels claimed that the police made a statement regarding an incident that purportedly occurred eleven years ago without mentioning any of the four possible outcomes for someone discovered in possession of cocaine.
Popcaan hasn’t commented on the proceedings in his case up to this point. However, he is not being held by immigration authorities after posting a video online of himself dancing and having a good time with pals.
Sources
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