New details have emerged showing that former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was preparing to uncover a massive drug operation before his assassination.
According to a piece by The New York Times, Moïse was compiling a list that included politicians and entrepreneurs who were heavily involved in Haiti’s drug trade. He was reportedly gearing up to hand that information over to the United States government at the time of his murder in July. Several individuals who helped him become president, including four top advisors and Haitian officials, were included on the list.
His wife, first lady Martine Marie Etienne Joseph, was also shot during the rampage at the presidential palace. She said shortly after the murder that as she played dead, the gunmen ransacked their bedroom looking for something. When they couldn’t find what they were after, they stated, “that’s it,” and exited the room. Several of the 45 people arrested in connection with the murder have admitted that they were searching for the explosive document that night. Investigators who responded to the crime scene also confirmed that the home office had papers strewn everywhere.
Moïse was trying to rid Haiti of drugs by cleaning up its customs department, which was notorious for drug trafficking. He was also investigating money laundering schemes.
Before resigning last month, Daniel Foote, the former U.S. special envoy to Haiti, said he was sure that narcotics and weapons trafficking played a role in the assassination. The investigation remains ongoing.
