US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Tuesday that a further four men, three Americans and one Colombian US permanent resident, have been arrested over their alleged involvement in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. The four men were later indicted by a Florida grand jury, along with seven others who had already been arrested, and subsequently attended their initial appearances in a Miami federal court.

Garland alleged that these men “participated in the planning, financing, and orchestration” of the assassination of Moïse. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security conducted a nearly two-year investigation which has resulted in these arrests. FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security John Tien reiterated the US’ continued commitment to fighting “transnational organized crime”.

The assassination was allegedly planned in south Florida with the end goal of replacing Moïse. Two of the men arrested belonged to a company called Count Terrorist Unit Federal Academy and Counter Terrorist Unit Security, which they hoped would receive contracts from Moïse’s replacement. Another man worked for Worldwide Capital Lending Group and allegedly helped finance the operation. The final man had close ties with Christian Emmanuel Sanon, who was arrested for his involvement in July 2021 and had hopes of replacing Moïse.

Moïse was shot in his home on July 7, 2021. His wife was also shot but survived. The political situation in Haiti remains unstable with the US Department of State giving Haiti a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” warning on December 1 2022 due to “kidnapping, crime, and civil unrest.”