PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) 鈥 Eighteen suspects who were arrested in the July 2021 killing of Haitian President Jovenel Mo茂se were awaiting extradition to the U.S. on Sunday, marking the end of a drawn-out judicial process in Haiti for a killing that shocked the troubled Caribbean country.
The suspects will face trial in Florida, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Reding Qui帽ones.
鈥淭oday marks the next major phase in our pursuit of accountability for the assassination of President Jovenel Mo茂se,鈥 he wrote on X. 鈥淲e will follow the evidence wherever it leads, to those who financed it, facilitated it, supported it or committed crimes to make it possible. Five years later, we are still bringing defendants before American courts, and we are not finished.鈥
Qui帽ones did not identify the suspects, but those who remain in Haiti awaiting trial include more than a dozen Colombian soldiers and a former Haitian government official.
Qui帽ones said 30 people have been indicted in Mo茂se鈥檚 killing, with FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles noting that there were multiple arrests in the U.S. and abroad on Sunday.
He said that the FBI and others 鈥渞emain steadfast in ensuring that all individuals who allegedly sought profit from the assassination of a head of state are held fully accountable.鈥
The extradition comes as the U.S. continues to prosecute and sentence multiple other suspects in the case.
In May, a jury in Florida convicted four men in the killing, and at least five others have pleaded guilty and are serving life sentences.
Those recently convicted include Arc谩ngel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages, all of whom pleaded not guilty. A jury found guilty of conspiring to kill or kidnap Haiti鈥檚 elected leader and providing material support for the plot.
D谩nica Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.