Four notorious Haitian criminals have just joined the list of major global human rights violators. Johnson André, better known as Izo, Renel Destina, alias Ti Lapli, Vitel’homme Innocent, and Wilson Joseph, alias Lanmò 100 jou, have recently been added to the list of top international criminals.
These individuals, members of four of the most powerful gangs in Haiti, are responsible for thousands of kidnappings for ransom, involvement in criminal associations, and assassinations, among other crimes, according to the U.S. Department of State.
“Today, OFAC has designated Johnson ‘Izo’ André (André), Renel Destina (Destina), Vitel’homme Innocent (Innocent), and Wilson Joseph (Joseph), the leaders of four criminal gangs in Haiti: 5 Segond, Grand Ravine, Kraze Baryé, and 400 Mawozo. André is wanted by the Haitian National Police for murder, kidnapping for ransom, illegal possession of firearms, diversion of goods trucks, and involvement in criminal associations,” according to a statement released by the Department of State on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The U.S. Department of State reminds that “[Renel] Destina and his gang have been identified by survivors as directly responsible for 1,035 documented cases of sexual violence in 2022 alone.” Additionally, the notorious criminal Johnoson André, better known as Izo, and his ally Renel Destina, also known as Ti Lapli, have “committed kidnappings as well as murders, thefts, rapes, looting and arson of residences, and repeated attacks against Haitian police officers.”
This list was published ahead of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948.
“Our commitment to supporting and defending human rights is sacred,” said Janet L. Yellen, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. “Violations of personal rights and fundamental freedoms, wherever they occur in the world, strike at the heart of our common humanity and collective conscience. The targeted Treasury sanctions announced today and over the past year underscore the seriousness of our commitment to promoting accountability for human rights violations and protecting the U.S. financial system from those who commit these heinous acts,” Ms. Yellen stated on December 8.
This list was approved on Friday, December 8, by the United Nations Security Council, which reminds that “criminal gangs now control approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince.”
Several of the sanctioned individuals are part of the federation of gangs G9 in Family and Allies. In a report presented to the United Nations Security Council on September 25, 2020, the then representative of the Secretary-General of the UN in Haiti, the American Helen La Lime, indicated that the formation of the G9 group “seemed to have an impact on major crime trends [in Haiti].”
While participating several months ago in the podcast “Un Mot” hosted by Jason Johnson, former Haitian-American diplomat Patrick Gaspard accused Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who, he said, is complicit with the armed gangs terrorizing Haiti. “The current Prime Minister, who acts de facto as president, is closely linked to the leadership of gangs in the country.” The head of government did not respond to the accusations of the former American diplomat.
Patrick Gaspard is not the only former American diplomat to denounce the alleged involvement of Ariel Henry in financing and strengthening criminal activities in Haiti.
Former U.S. special envoy to Haiti Dan Foote never missed an opportunity to denounce the head of government, who, according to him, is one of the main suppliers and beneficiaries of armed gangs in Haiti.
Accusations that are not enough to weaken the support of the United States and the international community for Ariel Henry.
The list of major global human rights violators includes alleged criminals from other countries, including Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Liberia, the People’s Republic of China, South Sudan, and Uganda.
This designation will result in the freezing of assets of the sanctioned individuals in the United States. The Department of State also announced that other individuals with connections to these individuals will also face sanctions.
Izo, Ti Lapli, Lanmò san jou, and Viltelhomme have recently been added to the famous list of Haitian personalities sanctioned by the United States.
Currently, 13 Haitian individuals and/or entities are on the list of the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). They are:
- Johnson ANDRE
- Gary BODEAU
- Rony CELESTIN
- Jimmy CHERIZIER
- Renel DESTINA
- Joseph Pierre Richard DUPLAN
- Empresa Cubana de Aviacion
- Herve FOURCAND
- Vitel’homme INNOCENT
- Wilson JOSEPH
- Joseph LAMBERT
- Youri LATORTUE
- Fednel MONCHERY
The charges vary for each person on the list, with some accused of drug trafficking, corruption, financing criminal activities, among others.
Canada had also released a more extensive list containing the names of former President Michel Joseph Martelly, former Prime Ministers Laurent Salvador Lamothe and Jean Henry Céant.