The United States has announced charges against a total of seven Haitian gang leaders for their alleged involvement in the kidnappings of US citizens, as Washington heaps pressure on armed groups and others contributing to a security crisis on the Caribbean Island.
The US Department of Justice said on Monday that it charged three Haitian citizens with “conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking” for their roles in the abduction of a group of Christian missionaries near Port-au-Prince last year.
Sixteen American missionaries and one Canadian were abducted in October last year by a powerful criminal gang known as 400 Mawozo after they visited an orphanage east of the Haitian capital, local authorities said.
Read Also: German Police Apprehends Woman Over Plot to Kidnap Health Minister
Two leaders of 400 Mawozo – Lanmo Sanjou, also known as Joseph Wilson, and Jermaine Stephenson, also known as Gaspiyay – were charged, the US Justice Department said, along with the leader of the Kraze Barye gang, Vitel’homme Innocent.
Meanwhile, the US Department of State offered a reward of up to $1m each for information that will lead to the arrest or convictions of Sanjou, Stephenson, and Innocent. The three men are believed to still be in Haiti, the Justice Department said.
