Michel Joseph Martelly was sanctioned yesterday by the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for participating in the global illicit drug trade. Martelly will no longer be able to draw credit from US financial institutions and US citizens are no longer allowed to invest or purchase significant amounts of equity or debt instruments held by Martelly.
“Today’s action against Martelly emphasizes the significant and destabilizing role he and other corrupt political elites have played in perpetuating the ongoing crisis in Haiti,” said Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “The United States, along with our international partners, is committed to disrupting those who facilitate the drug trafficking, corruption, and other illicit activities fueling the horrific gang violence and political instability.”
Martelly made use of his position to facilitate the trafficking of drugs such as cocaine to the United states, according to the government agency, helping Haiti to become a transit point for narcotics coming into the United States.
Martelly was president of Haiti from 2011 to 2016. He was previously one of Haiti’s best known musicians playing keyboards and singing. Martelly resigned the presidency after political unrest marred a contested presidential primary process.
