Haiti: Businessmen Andy Apaid and Charles-Henri Baker Interviewed by BLTS

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— Two influential figures from the Haitian private sector, Andy Apaid Junior and Charles-Henri Baker, were interviewed Tuesday by the Anti-Drug Trafficking Bureau (BLTS), confirmed the Communication Directorate of the Haitian National Police (DICOP). This step is part of an ongoing judicial procedure, for which authorities have not yet provided any substantial details. According to available information, these interviews are part of the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ)'s efforts to intensify investigations conducted by its specialized units into several sensitive cases, particularly concerning drug trafficking. Authorities did not specify the exact reasons for the summonses, nor did they indicate whether immediate legal action was being considered. At this stage, no precautionary measures or additional decisions have been announced following the interviews. The HNP also did not indicate whether other private sector or political figures might be called to appear as part of these investigations. Viral videos fuel speculation, but no official confirmation This development comes as videos circulate on social media showing gang leader Wilson Joseph, alias «Lanmò san jou», claiming to have discovered substances resembling marijuana in a factory he attributes to Andy Apaid. These allegations, widely shared online, have not been officially confirmed. No connection has been established by authorities between this viral content and the judicial procedure currently being conducted by the BLTS. While these accusations are becoming persistent, they are not corroborated. However, the summons of these private sector magnates by the BLTS follows the dissemination on social media of videos showing a field of plants resembling cannabis leaves. A twist between Apaid and armed men in a fragile security context In parallel, Andy Apaid has already been targeted by rumors and public accusations from armed actors, particularly concerning alleged illicit trafficking activities. However, no evidence, court decision, or investigation conclusion has been made public to date. These claims therefore remain, to this day, unverified statements. This double interview comes in a tense national climate, marked by a resurgence of criminal violence and suspicions of the involvement of certain economic actors in illegal networks. For the police, this is a signal of an investigation that aims to be «rigorous and impartial», according to DICOP, with the objective of shedding full light on ongoing cases, as the country attempts to combat organized crime and restore confidence in the rule of law. Jean Mapou