18 Suspects Transferred to the United States
Eighteen people arrested in connection with the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have been transferred from Haiti to the United States, where they are expected to face federal proceedings in Florida.
The suspects were flown from Port-au-Prince on a U.S. military aircraft on September 20, marking a major development in a case that has remained stalled in Haiti for years. U.S. authorities say the investigation is continuing as prosecutors pursue individuals accused of financing, supporting or carrying out the plot.
The group includes 17 former Colombian soldiers and Joseph Badio, a former Haitian Ministry of Justice employee who had worked in an anti-corruption unit. Badio was arrested in Haiti in October 2023 after remaining at large for more than two years.
Haiti’s Judicial Process Faced Major Delays
The transfer comes after repeated difficulties in advancing the assassination case through Haiti’s judicial system. Investigations have been disrupted by gang violence, threats against judges and the deteriorating security situation in Port-au-Prince.
Haitian officials said the suspects were surrendered to U.S. authorities to allow the legal proceedings to move forward. The country’s justice authorities acknowledged that the domestic case had encountered significant obstacles and that no trial had taken place after years of investigation.
The assassination occurred on July 7, 2021, when Moïse was shot at his private residence in Port-au-Prince. His wife, Martine Moïse, was also wounded in the attack.
Some of the Colombian suspects have previously claimed they were beaten, threatened and pressured while in Haitian custody. Relatives have also raised concerns about their prolonged detention and prison conditions.
US Prosecutors Continue Moïse Assassination Case
The extraditions come as U.S. prosecutors continue pursuing people allegedly connected to the assassination plot. Authorities say 30 people have been indicted in connection with the case.
In May 2026, a federal jury in Florida convicted four men accused of helping organize the operation. At least five other defendants have previously pleaded guilty and received life sentences.
Among those still facing proceedings is Christian Sanon, a Haitian-American who authorities have said was allegedly selected by conspirators as a potential replacement for Moïse. His case remains pending.
U.S. authorities have also identified other individuals as fugitives in the broader investigation. One is Dimitri Hérard, a former security official at Haiti’s National Palace who escaped custody after armed groups attacked major prisons in the country.
The transfer of the 18 suspects moves another part of the long-running Jovenel Moïse assassination investigation into the U.S. federal court system, while Haiti continues to face serious security and judicial challenges.
