Haitian gang member extradited to the US, faces charges in abduction of US citizens

In a significant development, Haitian law enforcement authorities have extradited a man linked to a notorious and violent gang accused of kidnapping four US citizens. 

Jhon Peter Fleronvil’s involvement

Haiti’s National Police, on Tuesday, revealed that Jhon Peter Fleronvil is affiliated with the notorious gang known as “Kokorat San Ras,” which can be roughly translated to mean “Cohorts of No Race.”

Extradition and charges

Reports are that Fleronvil’s extradition to the United States occurred on Monday. He is faced with charges related to the abduction of four US citizens in Haiti’s central Artibonite region back in July 2022. 

The arrest of Fleronvil took place in September in the northern coastal town of Fort Liberte, where he was apprehended while attempting to flee towards the nearby border with the Dominican Republic.

The Menace of “Kokorat San Ras” Gang

According to a recent UN report, “Kokorat San Ras, despite its limited numbers, is also a very brutal gang” that operates in the Artibonite region.

The report further stated that the gang, with approximately 20 members has been responsible for acts of extreme violence, including forcing people to abandon vast areas of cropland and posing a severe threat to agricultural production.

Multifaceted criminal activities

The “Kokorat San Ras” gang has faced allegations of engaging in a wide range of criminal activities, including murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and the hijacking of trucks and goods.