[ad_1]
The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on former Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly over drug trafficking charges, accusing him of playing a major role in perpetuating the country’s ongoing crisis.
“Martelli abused his influence to facilitate drug trafficking and funded multiple criminal gangs in Haiti,” U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press release.
Martelly, 63, served as president from 2011 to 2016, taking office after the devastating 2010 earthquake.
The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that Martelli “abused his influence to facilitate the trafficking of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, into the United States.” He also worked with Haitian drug traffickers, funded multiple gangs and engaged in money laundering of illicit drug proceeds, the department said.
Bradley Smith, the Treasury Department’s acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement that “today’s action against Martelly highlights the significant and destabilizing role he and other corrupt political elites play in perpetuating the crisis in Haiti.”
As part of Tuesday’s action, U.S. financial institutions will be prohibited from extending loans or credit to Martelly, among other restrictions.
According to the Miami Herald, Martelli is a legal U.S. resident currently living in Miami.
Asked whether Martelly had left the U.S., a State Department spokesman said the department does not comment on an individual’s immigration status. Martelly’s attorney also declined to comment on the case.
Martelli, a pop singer who performed under the stage name “Sweet Micky” before becoming president, received strong support from the U.S. before and during his presidency and has made a living performing in South Florida since leaving office, including some recent soft-core performances.
During his presidency, his government faced corruption charges related to emergency aid and the use of funds from the Venezuelan oil loan program.
In 2022, Canada imposed sanctions on Martelly and two former prime ministers for gang financing.
The United Nations says gang warfare has displaced more than 578,000 Haitians and nearly 5 million are suffering from severe hunger, almost half the population of 11.7 million, with 1.6 million at risk of starvation.
Armed gangs have formed broad alliances and carried out widespread killings, kidnappings for ransom and sexual violence.
[ad_2]
Source link
