Leader of Haitian Mawazo gang extradited to US for kidnapping 16 American missionaries

The leader of the 400 Mawazo gang, which is known for mass kidnappings, has been extradited to the United States to face charges for the abduction of 16 American missionaries in 2021.

Following a request from the US on April 22, Germine Joly, alias Yonyon, was transferred from Port-au-Prince to the United States on a special FBI aeroplane on Tuesday.

Joly was flown to Washington, D.C., according to a source. Police did not say where he was being taken, and the FBI did not respond to media's request for comment.

Joly was wanted on an international warrant for kidnapping American people for ransom, importing weapons of war, and conspiracy and violation of the US Export and Contraband Control Reform Act.

If the 400 Mawazo gang's demand for a $1 million ransom for each victim was not satisfied, it threatened to "place a bullet" in 17 Christian Aid Ministries missionaries — 16 Americans and one Canadian.

Since 2015, the gang leader had been imprisoned in Haiti on charges of kidnapping for ransom, rape, armed robbery, murder, illegal firearm possession, and criminal association.

He is accused of leading his gang from prison and planning several kidnappings from his cell.

The 400 Mawazo gang is also suspected of being behind an armed war that has killed at least 20 civilians in the last week and displaced hundreds of Haitians from their homes in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighbourhood, east of the city.

Police have captured some members of the 400 Mawazo gang and fatally shot others in recent days in an attempt to apprehend them.