US arrests 18 suspects in killing of Haitian president

Miami officials announced on Sunday that 18 suspects have been taken to Florida to face trial for the 2021 murder of Haitian president Jovenel Moise. Moise, aged 53, was killed on July 7, 2021, by a team of around 20 military-trained Colombian mercenaries. His security team failed to shield him from the attack. The FBI's relentless pursuit of those involved in the assassination is evident through today's multi-location and international arrests, said FBI special agent Brett Skiles on X. Federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones further added that 18 individuals have been transported in a military plane from Haiti to face justice in the Southern District of Florida.

Quinones also mentioned that 30 suspects have so far been indicted in Moise's killing, with Joseph Felix Badio, a former anti-corruption official, being among the extradited suspects. The others are Colombian mercenaries, according to Haitian government sources. In May, four men were convicted in a Miami federal court for charges such as conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moise, conspiracy to provide material support, and violating the US Neutrality Act for engaging in an illicit military operation abroad.

They currently face potential life sentences. All four were connected to CTU, a Florida-based private security firm, which enticed them into the plot with the promise of lucrative contracts post Moise's removal. Eleven individuals are already indicted in US courts for plotting the assassination, which holds jurisdiction over plots initiated on American soil.

Since Moise's murder, Haiti has plummeted into further turmoil, currently without a president. The country is set to hold its first presidential and legislative election since 2016, along with a referendum on the constitution, on December 13, provided security conditions permit. Gangs now control approximately 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, and violent crimes such as kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery, and carjackings are rampant.

A UN-backed military force meant to assist local police in combating the gangs will not be fully staffed by October, as initially planned.