On Tuesday, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on former Haitian President Michel Martelly for trafficking drugs, especially cocaine, to the United States.
Washington’s steps are similar to those done by the Canadian government, which imposed sanctions against Martelly and two former prime ministers in 2022, accusing them of benefitting from armed gangs.
Martelly, a former musician who served as the Caribbean nation’s president from 2011 to 2016, “abused his influence to facilitate the trafficking of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, destined for the United States,” according to a US Treasury statement.
He was reportedly involved in “laundering of illicit drug proceeds,” cooperating with local drug traffickers, and funding several Haitian gangs, according to the statement.
Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has long been plagued by gang violence, but conditions deteriorated dramatically in February, when armed forces forced the departure of then-prime minister Ariel Henry.
Criminal groups control around 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, with inhabitants reporting threats of murder, rape, and kidnapping for ransom.
Hundreds of Kenyan police personnel have been deployed to Haiti as part of an international attempt to restore peace to the country ravaged by political, social, and economic turmoil.
“Today’s action against Martelly emphasises the significant and destabilising role he and other corrupt political elites have played in perpetuating the ongoing crisis in Haiti,” said Bradley Smith, the Treasury’s acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
“It is unacceptable for Haitian political and economic elites to plunder Haiti’s future,” US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement.
He added that the action taken Tuesday demonstrates the US’s “unwavering resolve to promote accountability for all individuals whose activities contribute to gang violence and destabilise the political environment in Haiti, regardless of their rank or stature.”