According to AFP, 18 suspects in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021 have been brought to Florida for trial, US officials said on September 20.
Mr. Moise, 53 years old, was murdered by a group of about 20 military-trained Colombian mercenaries at his residence on July 7, 2021.
The arrests conducted at many locations and internationally today show the FBI's unwavering commitment to bringing all those involved in this conspiracy to justice," FBI agent Brett Skiles wrote on X.
To date, 30 suspects have been prosecuted in connection with the assassination.
Among those extradited is Joseph Felix Badio, a key suspect in the investigation and former anti-corruption official at the Haitian Ministry of Justice, according to sources from the Haitian government and police told AFP.
The remaining people are Colombian mercenaries, according to the above sources.
The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 20 issued a statement saying it is "closely monitoring" the "transfer of 17 Colombian citizens from the Republic of Haiti to the United States".
The ministry said Bogota "does not interfere in the decision or process leading to the transfer of its citizens to the United States, an issue under the authority of the authorities of the relevant countries".
At US courts, 11 people have been prosecuted in connection with the assassination. These courts have jurisdiction over planned plots on US territory.
Haiti has fallen into deeper chaos since the assassination of Mr. Moise and currently has no president.
Haiti is preparing to hold its first presidential and parliamentary elections since 2016, along with a constitutional referendum on December 13, if security conditions permit.
Gangs control about 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince. Violent crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and car robbery are rampant in this country.
A United Nations-backed armed force, tasked with supporting local police against gangs, will not be fully deployed in October as planned, the force's spokesman said earlier this month.
