Robert Besser
13 May 2022, 03:35 GMT+10
A Turkish official has told the Associated Press that eight Turkish citizens were kidnapped this week in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, becoming the latest in a series of high-profile kidnappings by gangs.
Hugues Josue, Turkey's honorary consul in Haiti, said the Turkish group of five men and three women had boarded a bus in the neighboring Dominican Republic and were kidnapped on May 8 in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.
Josue added that he did not have any details on a potential ransom request.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that the government was following the issue closely, and a crisis desk had been set up in Haiti.
"They are thought to have been kidnapped for ransom. There is no news concerning the state of their health at the moment," he added.
Croix-des-Bouquets is controlled by the 400 Mawozo gang that kidnapped 17 members of a U.S.-based missionary group in the same area in October, demanding $1 million in ransom.
Earlier this month, a diplomat from the Dominican Republic was also kidnapped in the same neighborhood, but was later released.
Haiti's National Police announced that one of the top leaders of the 400 Mawozo gang, Germine Joly, has been extradited to the U.S. to faces charges of kidnapping, smuggling and importing weapons of war.
In recent weeks, gang violence has displaced thousands of families and forced dozens of schools and businesses to close.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced that at least 75 people have been killed in the most recent gang clashes in Haiti, including women and children, and more than 65 injured.
(GSR photo / Chris Herlinger)
Get a daily dose of Scotland Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Scotland Star.
More InformationNEW DELHI, India: Indian federal police documents indicate that the country has filed a graft case against the UK's BAE ...
London [UK], June 2 (ANI): Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio was recently spotted hanging out with British-Punjabi model Neelam Gill. According ...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 2 (ANI): Makers of the upcoming thriller show 'The Night Manager Part -II' starring Aditya Roy ...
New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): Chhatrapati Shivaji Shivaji ended the mindset of slavery and his ideas continue to inspire ...
Mateusz Morawiecki has admitted he doesn?t have the fighter jets to spareWarsaw does not have enough F-16 jets or Patriot ...
SRV MediaNew Delhi [India], June 2: Wellman, a leading men's wellness supplement brand, recently completed a highly successful online campaign ...
TOKYO, Japan: After coming under public criticism for using Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's residence for a private party, his ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that 2nd Lt. James Litherland of South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an Army ...
DHAKA, Bangladesh - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 13 members of Grameen Telecom's board of directors, ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department has said that trade ministers from 14 countries have taken part in the US-led ...
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: Two horses that succumbed to their injuries at Churchill Downs have become the 11th and 12th fatalities over ...
FREMONT, California: Brain implant company Neuralink announced that it has received approval from US regulators to begin human brain implant ...