Five Americans who claimed they were on a “Government Mission” arrested by Haitian police after being stopped at a police checkpoint. Upon searching the vehicles which had no license plates Haitian authorities found various weapons, drones, satellite phones, body armor and other equipment and later told U.S. officials they were on the island providing security for a Haitian businessman working with the goverment.
A few days after their arrests they were quickly put onto a plane back to the United States.
UPDATE: The men were released and brought back to the US, where they were arrested upon landing: https://t.co/QPppYyqHuW
— Paul Szoldra (@PaulSzoldra) February 21, 2019
Despite some claims that the men were arrested once arriving in the united states that has actually turned out not to be the case.
“The return of the individuals to the U.S. was coordinated with the Haitian authorities,” a State Department spokesperson told Task & Purpose. The spokesperson declined to answer when asked if they were operating on a U.S. government contract in Haiti.
A letter from Haitian Minister of Justice Jean Roody Aly wrote to Haiti’s Central Bureau of the Judicial Police obtained by the Miami-Herald reads, “I want to inform you that I’ve authorized a procedure of transfer to the United States of America of American citizens and United States permanent residents, a total of seven to respond to the charges of transporting illegal arms from the United States through the Haitian territory,”
Neg yo te arete yo te sou vol mwen an (AA 1059). M’ap konfime ke otorite ameriken vinn pran yo nan avyon an e yo menote yo!
— carel pedre (@carelpedre) February 21, 2019
The Americans were later identified as identified as Chris Osman, 44, Christopher McKinley (who also goes by Christopher Heben), 49, both former Navy SEALs; Kent Kroeker, 52, a former Marine Corps pilot; Talon Burton, 52, a former Army military policeman and State Department security guard; and Dustin Porte, 42, the president of a business headquartered in Louisiana called Patriot Group Services, Inc.
It's confirmed, here's video of mercenaries captured in #Haiti being escorted to their plane (without handcuffs) by US Emb. personnel. Local press being told they will be debriefed by FBI upon arrival. Haiti protests leaders vowing to continue pressure to force #PHTK from power. pic.twitter.com/T2dcRl2fFb
— HaitiInfoProject ? (@HaitiInfoProj) February 20, 2019
Despite these letters the men are not facing charges. In fact there is nothing on record with the Miami federal courts and Federal officials have already stated they will be debriefing the men not charging them.
Which has sparked outrage amongst the Haitians. The details behind their presence in Haiti is still very unclear and there isnt much information in regards to what they were actually doing there.
