The spokesperson for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, announced in mid-October 2023, the creation of a transnational criminal investigation unit in Haiti. Thursday, February 15, 2024, the American Embassy in Haiti announced that the United States and Haiti have taken a key step towards the launch of said unit.
“The United States and Haiti have taken a key step toward launching a Transnational Criminal Investigation Unit (UTEC) in Port-au-Prince to address Haiti’s urgent security needs,” says the embassy in a communication on its social networks.
The American body also informs that it signed an agreement this week at the headquarters of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to establish a UTEC aimed at prosecuting gang activities and other crimes at the international.
This agreement was signed between the Deputy Director (AD) of International Operations of the United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), David J. Magdycz, and the Haitian Minister of Justice, Emmelie Prophete-Milcé, on February 13 in Washington DC, to officially establish the Haiti Transnational Criminal Investigation Unit, according to a press release from HSI, indicating that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Department of State, Chris Landberg, and leaders of the Haitian National Police (PNH), also attended the signing ceremony.
According to the release, the memorandum provides the framework for the unit’s operations and details the responsibilities of both parties. The unit will facilitate the exchange of information between law enforcement partners in the United States and Haiti, and strengthen the capabilities of Haiti and the United States to investigate and prosecute those involved in transnational criminal activities.
The United States maintains that transnational criminal investigative units are a critical part of HSI’s efforts to build the capacity of partner countries and combat transnational criminal activity at the source, thereby preventing their entry into the United States.
“The creation of the TCIU is a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to combat transnational crime and ensure the safety and security of our two nations,” Magdycz said.
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