US imposes sanctions on former Haitian president over alleged drug trafficking | Drug News

According to the US Treasury Department, Michel Joseph Martelly “abused his influence” to facilitate drug smuggling into the United States.

The United States has imposed sanctions on former Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly over alleged drug trafficking, accusing him of playing a key role in perpetuating the ongoing crisis in the country.

The US Treasury Department said in a statement on Tuesday that Martelly “abused his influence to facilitate the trafficking of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, destined for the United States.”

The ministry said Martelly, who served as president of the Caribbean nation between 2011 and 2016, also collaborated with Haitian drug traffickers, sponsored several gangs and was involved in laundering proceeds from illegal drugs.

“Today's action against Martelly underscores the significant and destabilizing role he and other corrupt political elites have played in perpetuating the ongoing crisis in Haiti,” Acting Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith said in the statement.

“The United States, along with our international partners, is committed to disrupting those who facilitate drug trafficking, corruption, and other illicit activities that fuel the horrific gang violence and political instability.”

Tuesday's move freezes all of Martelly's U.S. assets and generally prohibits Americans from doing business with him. It is similar to similar measures taken by the Canadian government, which imposed sanctions on Martelly and two other former prime ministers in 2022, accusing them of profiting from armed gangs.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has long been plagued by gang violence, but the situation worsened sharply in February when armed groups forced then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.

Criminal groups control around 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Residents report being threatened with murder, rape and kidnapping for ransom.

Hundreds of police officers from Kenya have been deployed to Haiti as part of international efforts to bring stability to the country torn by political, social and economic chaos.

Gang warfare has forced more than 578,000 Haitians to flee, according to the United Nations, while nearly five million – almost half of the country's 11.7 million inhabitants – face acute hunger, with 1.6 million of them at risk of starvation.