The United States has imposed visa restrictions on several Haitian citizens linked to criminal organizations

UNITED STATES announced the imposition of travel restrictions five Haitian citizens and seven of his direct relatives for being linked to street gangs and other criminal organizations on the island.

He US State Department Secretary Antony Blinkenindicated that this measure “sends a clear message” of commitment to Washington “For eradicate corruption and impact the behavior of bad actors whose influence maintains anarchy in Haiti”.

Blinken said these additional penalties are part of the support for the Haitian people “by continuing to promote the empowerment of people who promote violencethere Corruption and the instability”.

“The Department continues to identify individuals and their immediate family members who may be subject to visa restrictions under this policy.. Our actions today demonstrate that there are consequences for those who incite violence and unrest in the country,” read a statement from the State Department.

He condemned “in the strongest terms the violent gang activity” and expressed his “deep concern” about the situation in the country, referring to the activity of armed gangs.

“We continue to support Haitian citizens, organizations and public officials who are committed to generating hope and opportunity for a better future in their country,” Blinken said.

Along with these designations, state department It also included the President of the Haitian Senate, Joseph Lambertwhich has already been sanctioned by the United States and Canada, Rommel’s Bellunder Section 7031(c), another visa restriction policy against persons directly or indirectly participating in significant corruption or serious human rights violations.

On February 14, the United States arrested four suspects in the assassination of the Haitian president in Florida. Jovenel Moise in 2021, according to a federal prosecutor indicated during a press conference held in Miami.

Three of those arrested are charged with conspiracy kill and kidnap to a person outside the United States, a crime for which they face life imprisonment.

It’s about the Venezuelan Antonio Intriago, the Colombian Arcángel Pretel Ortiz and the American Walter Veintemilla.

Intriago and Ortiz ran two Miami security firms, known as CTU, allegedly involved in the plan to overthrow Moses and replacing him with Christian Sanon, a Haitian-American citizen.

Veintemilla joined the intrigue as a financier through his company Global Capital Lending Groupbased in South Florida.

The fourth inmate, the American Frederick Joseph Bergmann Jr.is accused of helping fund the coup and collaborating in sending CTU bulletproof vests to Haiti without complying with US export regulations.

Moïse, 53, was shot dead by an armed commando in July 2021 at his private residence in Port-au-Prince, without the intervention of his bodyguards.

“It seems that money and power, but especially money, were the opportunities that fueled the conspiracy,” the prosecutor said. Marcenzy Lapointe during the press conference.

According to him, Intriago, Ortiz and Veintemilla concocted the assassination plan in exchange for contracts to build infrastructure in Haiti, provide security forces and military equipment to a government led by Sanon.

(With information from Europa Press and AFP)

Continue reading: