US Treasury Department imposes sanctions on former Haitian President Michel Martelly

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned former Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly, known for his controversial transition from popular musician to president, for his alleged role in facilitating drug trafficking and supporting gang violence in Haiti. The sanctions, issued on August 20, 2024, under Executive Order 14059, highlight Martelly’s alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade, which has exacerbated the ongoing crisis in Haiti, according to a Treasury Department press release.

“Today’s action against Martelly underscores the significant and destabilizing role he and other corrupt political elites have played in perpetuating the ongoing crisis in Haiti,” said Bradley T. Smith, acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. The sanctions are part of the U.S. government’s efforts to disrupt the activities of those fueling gang violence and political instability in Haiti.

Before entering politics, Martelly was widely known as “Sweet Micky,” a successful and often controversial musician who dominated the Haitian konpa music scene. His energetic performances and provocative style made him a household name, and his popularity eventually paved the way for his political career. In 2011, Martelly won the presidency, where his term was marked by promises of economic development and political reform, but also by allegations of corruption and ties to criminal elements.

The U.S. Treasury Department now accuses Martelly of abusing his influence to facilitate the trafficking of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, destined for the United States. He is said to have engaged in money laundering and collaborating with Haitian drug traffickers, and to have sponsored several Haitian gangs.

These sanctions prohibit U.S. financial institutions from making loans or extending credit to Martelly and prohibit U.S. persons from investing in or purchasing significant amounts of its assets. Martelly has also been added to the Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List, according to the Treasury Department release.

This is the second time that Martelly has been sanctioned, after the Canadian government took similar action in November 2022. The U.S. Treasury Department worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on these sanctions.

Martelly already sanctioned in 2022

Martelly, who served as president of Haiti from 2011 to 2016, is already subject to international sanctions. In November 2022, Canada added Martelly, along with two former prime ministers, Laurent Salvador Lamothe and Jean-Henry Céant, to its sanctions list. Canada said at the time that Haitian political elites were using their positions, past or present, to protect and support criminal gang activity, contributing to a grave humanitarian crisis and threatening regional peace and security.

The sanctions were aimed at freezing all assets held by Martelly and the former prime ministers in Canada. In addition, any person or entity in Canada, as well as Canadians and Canadian entities abroad, were prohibited from conducting transactions involving the assets of the named individuals, entering into transactions with them, providing them with services or making assets available to them.

“Sanctioned individuals benefit directly from gang activities and are associated with a system of corruption,” Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly explained at a press conference in Djerba, on the sidelines of the Francophonie summit.

Although the UN Security Council, through its committee of experts on Haiti, has been reluctant to impose sanctions on Haitians, a report published by the committee in October 2023 accuses former President Martelly, former Senate President Youri Latortue and businessman Reynold Deeb of maintaining links to gangs that terrorize the Haitian population.

According to this report, UN experts reveal that Martelly not only financed several gangs by supplying them with weapons during his term, but is also said to be the founder of a gang group known as Base 257. This group, whose leader was in prison before escaping from the capital’s civil prison, is said to be involved in criminal activities such as murders, kidnappings, thefts and drug trafficking.

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