Key facts
- Eighteen people have been arrested in connection with the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
- The suspects have been transported to Florida to face trial in the southern district of Florida.
- FBI special agent Brett Skiles stated the arrests underscore the FBI's commitment to bringing all participants to justice.
- Federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones said 30 suspects have been indicted in the killing.
- In May, four men were convicted in a federal court in Miami for charges including conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moïse.
- The four men convicted in May face possible sentences of life in prison.
Eighteen people have been arrested in association with the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, according to US officials. Moïse was shot dead on July 7, 2021, at his private residence by a group of approximately 20 military-trained Colombian mercenaries, with his security detail failing to intervene.
FBI special agent Brett Skiles stated that the multi-location and international arrests underscore the FBI's continued commitment to bringing all participants in the plot to justice. The suspects have been transported to Florida to face trial. Federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones said that 30 suspects have thus far been indicted in the killing.
In May, four men were convicted in a federal court in Miami on charges including conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moïse, conspiracy to provide material support, and violating the US Neutrality Act. These men, linked to the Florida-based private security firm CTU, were reportedly lured by the prospect of lucrative contracts following Moïse's ouster. They face possible sentences of life in prison.
Eleven people had already been indicted in US courts in connection with the assassination, with five of them already sentenced to life in prison. These included a former Colombian soldier, a former Haitian senator, a Haitian-Chilean businessman, a retired Colombian soldier, and a Haitian American.
Haiti has experienced increased chaos since Moïse's killing and currently has no president. The nation is preparing for its first presidential and legislative elections since 2016, alongside a constitutional referendum on December 13, contingent on security conditions. Gangs control approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince, and violent crimes are prevalent. A UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, intended to assist local police, is not expected to be fully staffed by October as planned.