Germine Joly is accused of “importing weapons of war” and “kidnapping for ransom from American citizens”.

The leader of one of the most powerful gangs in Haiti was extradited this Wednesday to the United States, said the Haitian police, at a time when the territorial dominance of armed groups puts Port-au-Prince under siege.

The head of the “400 mawozo” gang, Germine Joly, nicknamed “Yonyon”, was transported by the US Federal Police (FBI) to the city of Washington, which had issued an international warrant against the “gangster” in late April.

Incarcerated since 2015 in the prison of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, Germine Joly is being prosecuted by the United States for “importing weapons of war” and “kidnapping for ransom for American citizens”, specified the statement from the police forces.

The gang, which has led since the arrest, kidnapped a group of 17 people last fall, made up of American missionaries and family members, including five children.

On Friday, a Dominican diplomat was kidnapped by the same gang and a ransom of US$500,000 (about 475,000 euros) was demanded his release, according to the Haitian press.

For 10 days, the comforts between this armed group and another completely paralyzed the northern suburb of Port-au-Prince.

Hundreds of families were forced to flee the area and at least 20 civilians were killed, according to the very partial assessment of the violence that Haiti’s civil protection managed to establish last Thursday.

Since June 2021, the authorities have already lost control of the only road access that connects Port-au-Prince to the southern half of the Caribbean country, because, within two kilometers, the national road is fully under gang control.

Source: With Agencies