Eighteen individuals have been taken into custody in relation to the 2021 killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, US officials confirmed on Sunday. Moïse, 53, was shot dead on 7 July 2021 at his private residence by a group of approximately 20 military-trained Colombian mercenaries. His personal security personnel did not intervene during the attack.

FBI Special Agent Brett Skiles stated that the arrests, conducted across multiple locations and countries, reflect the bureau’s ongoing effort to hold all participants accountable. The suspects were transported to Florida to face trial in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones noted on social media that the indictments mark five years since the investigation began, with 30 individuals charged to date. He emphasized that the case remains active, stating, “We are not finished.”

In May, four men were convicted in a federal court in Miami on charges including conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moïse, conspiracy to provide material support, and violations of the US Neutrality Act related to foreign military operations. The convictions stemmed from their involvement with CTU, a Florida-based private security firm that prosecutors said recruited the men with promises of lucrative contracts following Moïse’s removal.

Eleven people have been indicted in US courts for their alleged roles in the assassination, which falls under American jurisdiction due to planning activities linked to US soil. Five of those indicted have received life sentences, including a former Colombian soldier, a former Haitian senator, a Haitian-Chilean businessman, and a Haitian-American individual.

Haiti has experienced escalating instability since Moïse’s death, leaving the country without a sitting president. Authorities are preparing to conduct presidential and legislative elections for the first time since 2016, alongside a constitutional referendum, scheduled for 13 December provided security conditions permit. Gangs currently control an estimated 80% of Port-au-Prince, contributing to widespread violence including kidnappings, armed robberies, and carjackings.

A UN-backed multinational force, intended to support Haitian police in countering gang activity, is expected to reach full deployment of 5,500 personnel and 50 civilian staff by October. As of July, fewer than 1,000 troops from countries including Jamaica, El Salvador, and Mongolia had been deployed. No updated figures have been released since.

The investigation continues to involve international cooperation, with US authorities working alongside Haitian and foreign law enforcement agencies to trace financial networks, identify additional suspects, and dismantle the networks that enabled the plot.