PORT-AU-PRINCE — Eighteen individuals accused in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse are set to be extradited to the United States, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings stemming from the high-profile case. The suspects are expected to face trial in Florida after a protracted judicial process in Haiti.

Jason Reding Quiñones, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, described the extraditions as a key step in pursuing accountability for the assassination. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, he emphasized the U.S. authorities’ commitment to following the evidence wherever it leads, including to those who may have financed, facilitated, or supported the operation. Quiñones highlighted that the investigation remains active five years after the incident, with efforts continuing to bring all suspects before American courts.

The announcement did not specify the identities of the extradited individuals. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Among those still facing trial in Haiti are over a dozen former Colombian soldiers, a former Haitian police officer, and Joseph Badio, a former employee of Haiti’s Ministry of Justice who was part of an anti-corruption unit. Badio, considered a principal suspect, was apprehended in Haiti in October 2023 after evading authorities for more than two years.

According to Quiñones, a total of 30 people have been formally indicted in connection with Moïse’s killing. FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles noted that multiple arrests occurred both in the U.S. and internationally on the day the extraditions were announced. Skiles affirmed that the FBI and partner agencies remain dedicated to holding all individuals accountable who allegedly sought to profit from the assassination of a sitting head of state.

The assassination of President Moïse on July 7, 2021, plunged Haiti into further political turmoil and instability. The ongoing investigations span several countries and involve complex international collaboration, reflecting the high-profile and multifaceted nature of the case.