US Arrests 18 Suspects Linked to Assassination of Haitian President
At least 18 suspects in the case of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise have been flown to Florida, United States, to be detained and stand trial.
Moise, aged 53, was shot dead at his private residence on 7 July 2021 by a group of Colombian mercenaries. The perpetrators of Moise’s murder numbered approximately 20 militarily trained individuals. The Haitian presidential guard took no action to protect Moise when the assassination occurred.
“The arrests carried out in various locations and involving an international scope today reaffirm the ongoing commitment of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to bring all parties involved in this conspiracy to justice,” said FBI Special Agent Breet Skiles in a statement via the social media platform X, as reported by AFP on Monday (21/9/2026).
In the same post, US Federal Prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones announced that: “A total of 18 individuals were flown using military aircraft from Haiti to face the American legal process in the Southern District of Florida.”
“Five years later, we are still bringing defendants to American courts, and our task is not yet finished,” he asserted, noting that 30 suspects have been indicted so far in connection with Moise’s murder.
Among those extradited is a key suspect in the investigation, Joseph Felix Badio, a former anti-corruption official at the Haitian Ministry of Justice. The other suspects are Colombian mercenaries.
The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Sunday (20/9) stating that it is closely monitoring the “transfer of 17 Colombian citizens from the Republic of Haiti to the United States”. It also emphasised that Bogota “did not interfere in the decision or the process.”
Last May, at least four defendants were found guilty in a federal court in Miami on a series of charges, including conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moise, conspiracy to provide material support, and violating the US Neutrality Act by participating in illegal overseas military operations. Those defendants face life imprisonment.
According to US federal prosecutors, the defendants had links to CTU, a private security firm based in Florida, and were persuaded to participate in the plot due to the prospect of securing lucrative contracts if Moise was successfully overthrown.
A further 11 individuals have been indicted in US courts in relation to the assassination.
US courts hold jurisdiction in the case of the Haitian President’s assassination because the criminal plot was orchestrated within US territory.