A key suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse has been arrested in Jamaica. Mario Palacios Palacios, a former Colombian military officer, was arrested in Kingston earlier this month, an arrest that has remained under silence, but has just been confirmed by several Haitian and Jamaican sources. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34218-haiti-flash-wanted-notice-for-a-very-dangerous-colombian-mercenary.html

A total of 44 people were arrested in connection with the crime, including 18 Colombians and three Haitian Americans who lived in South Florida. Arrest warrants, including Red Notices from Interpol authorizing a person to be held internationally, have been issued for a number of suspects, including Palacios, known as "Floro". Palacios is accused of being one of the main executors of the plan that led to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7 in his residence https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html

Palacios entered Haiti on June 4, 2021, according to the police investigation and was part of the four-member Delta team that allegedly entered the president's room. Two of the team members were killed by Haitian police.

The police report sets out the alleged roles of many in custody, including Colombian mercenaries who abruptly left a small hotel to move into the home of another key suspect, a convicted drug dealer, four days before the assassination.

The arrest warrant for Palacios was issued almost immediately after police confirmed that they also killed two Colombian mercenaries. Haitian police, in their investigation report, assumed that being "the only black Colombian on the team" made Palacios easy to blend into the population, allowing him to escape.

The Colombian government has already taken steps to prevent his transfer to Haiti.

Among those who remain at large are a former Haitian government official in the anti-corruption unit, Joseph Felix Badio, and a former diplomat, Ashkard Pierre and Rodolphe Jaar https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34225-haiti-notice-the-pnh-is-looking-for-3-dangerous-and-armed-individuals-including-a-former-senator.html

HL/ HaitiLibre