Eighteen suspects linked to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise have been transported from Haiti to the United States to face trial, US officials say.
The suspects were flown to Florida, where they are expected to appear before a federal court in the Southern District of Florida.
Moise, 53, was shot dead at his private residence in Port-au-Prince in July 2021 by a group of military-trained Colombian mercenaries.
His security detail did not intervene during the attack.
“Today’s multi-location and international arrests underscore the FBI’s continued commitment to bringing all participants in this plot to justice,” FBI special agent Brett Skiles said on X.
Federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones said the 18 suspects were “transported in military plane from Haiti to face American justice in the Southern District of Florida”.
“Five years later, we are still bringing defendants before American courts, and we are not finished,” Quinones said, adding that 30 suspects had so far been indicted over the killing.
Among those extradited is Joseph Felix Badio, a former anti-corruption official at Haiti’s Ministry of Justice and one of the main suspects in the investigation, according to Haitian government and police sources.
The other suspects include Colombian nationals who allegedly participated in the operation.
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was monitoring the transfer of 17 Colombian citizens from Haiti to the US.
Bogota said it “did not intervene in the decision or in the process that led to the transfer of its citizens to the United States”.
The ministry said the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities in the countries involved.
Four men already convicted
Four men were convicted in a federal court in Miami months ago over charges including conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moise, conspiracy to provide material support and violations of the US Neutrality Act.
They face possible life sentences.
US prosecutors said all four were linked to CTU, a Florida-based private security company, and had been drawn into the plot by the prospect of lucrative contracts following Moise’s removal from power.
The US has indicted 11 people in connection with the assassination, taking jurisdiction because parts of the alleged plot were organised on American soil.
Haiti faces continuing security crisis
Moise’s assassination has been followed by worsening political instability and gang violence in Haiti, which currently has no president.
The country is preparing for presidential and legislative elections, as well as a constitutional referendum, scheduled for 13 December, provided security conditions allow the votes to proceed.
Gangs are estimated to control about 80% of Port-au-Prince, with kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery and carjackings among the crimes affecting the population.
A UN-backed international force supporting Haitian police in the fight against armed gangs is also facing delays in reaching its planned strength.
A spokesman for the force said earlier this month that it would not be fully staffed by October as initially planned.
