In 2021, a number of missionary kidnappings were carried out by the 400 Mawozo gang in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.[1] 400 Mawozo is a Haitian gang that controls areas around Port-au-Prince.[2]

Kidnappings

On Saturday, 16 October 2021, 17 Christian missionaries from the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries were abducted by 400 Mawozo.[3] Typically, after a kidnapping, the gang makes a demand for a ransom. In a previous kidnapping, in April 2021, the group demanded $1 million apiece for the release of Catholic missionaries.[4] The gang's name, loosely translated from Creole, means 400 simpletons, or untrained men. Although kidnappings have been its new trade, the gang is known for threatening the use of rape and assassination to maintain power over the areas it controls.[5] According to former Haitian Senator Jean Renel Senatus, who headed the justice and security commission, the group was originally called "Texas" and was known for holding up residents and stealing motorcycles. Senatus himself had also received death threats from the group.[6] Their alleged leader is Wilson Joseph and goes by the nickname "Lanmò San Jou" or "Lanmò Sanjou", which literally means "death knows no days." He has flaunted the arrest warrant against him in online videos detailing his group's crimes.[7] The group's second-in-command is Joly "Yonyon" Germine, and he is currently incarcerated.[5]

On 16 December 2021, the Haitian justice minister announced that all the captives had been freed. Later it was found out that they had escaped.[8] Several of the captives had been freed in earlier weeks.

Aftermath

On 7 November 2022, the United States Department of State announced reward offers of up to US$1,000,000 each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Lanmò Sanjou and two other Haitian gang leaders—Jermaine Stephenson, or Gaspiyay; and Vitel'Homme Innocent—for their roles in the kidnappings.[9][10][11] Innocent was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's list of Most Wanted Fugitives in November 2023.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Faiola, Anthony (17 October 2021). "American missionaries and family members kidnapped in Haiti by '400 Mawozo' gang, groups say". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  2. ^ Méheut, Constant; Abi-Habib, Maria (17 October 2021). "Gang suspected in kidnapping of missionaries is among the country's most dangerous". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Up to 17 U.S. missionaries and family kidnapped in Haiti - media". Reuters. 17 October 2021. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Haiti kidnap: 400 Mawozo accused of US missionary kidnap". BBC News. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b Berger, Miriam (18 October 2021). "Who is 400 Mawozo, the Haitian gang accused of kidnapping American missionaries?". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  6. ^ Thomas, Gessika; Ellsworth, Brian (21 October 2021). Bell, Alistair (ed.). "Haiti's 400 Mawozo rose from petty crime gang to major kidnapping ring". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ Coto, Dánica; Sanon, Evens (17 October 2021). "Gang with past abductions blamed for kidnapping missionaries". AP NEWS. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  8. ^ Gallón, Natalie; Rivers, Matt (16 December 2021). "Remaining missionaries kidnapped in Haiti released by gang, says justice minister". CNN.
  9. ^ Blinken, Antony J. (7 November 2022). "U.S. Department of State Announces Reward Offers for Information Leading to the Arrests and/or Convictions of Three Haitian Gang Leaders". State.gov. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  10. ^ "US charges Haitian gang leaders over kidnappings, offers reward". Al-Jazeera. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  11. ^ Ellsworth, Brian (7 November 2022). O'Brien, Rosalba (ed.). "U.S. charges Haitian gang leaders for 2021 missionary kidnapping". Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  12. ^ Spencer, Terry (15 November 2023). "Haitian gang leader added to FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for kidnapping and killing Americans". The Associated Press.
Categories