Eighteen suspects accused of involvement in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have been transferred from Haiti to the United States, marking a major development in the long-running investigation into the killing.

The suspects were transported to Florida aboard a US military aircraft and are expected to face federal proceedings in the Southern District of Florida. The transfer comes after years of delays in Haiti’s judicial system, where insecurity, gang violence and threats against officials have complicated efforts to advance the case.

A Case That Shocked Haiti

Moïse, 53, was shot dead at his private residence in Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2021. His wife, Martine Moïse, was also seriously injured in the attack.

The assassination plunged Haiti into deeper political instability and contributed to a power vacuum that armed gangs later exploited. The case has involved Haitian nationals, Colombian former soldiers and individuals based in the United States.

US prosecutors have said that 30 people have been indicted in connection with the assassination. Among those transferred are 17 Colombian nationals and Joseph Félix Badio, a former Haitian Ministry of Justice employee who has been identified as a key suspect in the investigation.

US Authorities Pursue Further Convictions

The transfer follows previous convictions in the United States. In May 2026, a Florida jury found four men guilty of conspiring to kill or kidnap Haiti’s president and providing material support for the plot.

At least five other defendants have pleaded guilty and received life sentences. The US investigation continues to focus on individuals suspected of financing, organizing or facilitating the assassination.

US Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said authorities would continue following the evidence to identify everyone involved in the conspiracy.

Haiti’s Justice System Faces Major Challenges

The extradition highlights the difficulties Haiti has faced in handling the case domestically. Judicial proceedings have been delayed by gang violence, threats against judges and the seizure of court facilities by armed groups.

The country’s deteriorating security situation has made it increasingly difficult for courts to conduct complex criminal proceedings. Some officials and human rights advocates have expressed concern that Haiti’s justice system has been unable to handle a case of such national and international significance.

The transfer to the United States has therefore been welcomed by those seeking progress in the investigation, while also raising questions about Haiti’s ability to independently prosecute major crimes.

A Continuing Search for Accountability

Five years after Moïse’s assassination, the case remains unresolved for many of the individuals accused of involvement. Several suspects have already faced convictions in the United States, while others are awaiting trial or remain at large.

The latest transfer represents another stage in the international investigation. As US prosecutors continue their efforts, the case remains closely linked to Haiti’s political crisis, security challenges and the search for accountability for the killing of its former president.