Five Americans in Haiti have been arrested and are being held on conspiracy charges, according to a report published Monday.
It’s not clear when the five unnamed U.S. citizens were taken into custody. Two other foreign nationals and one Haitian were also arrested, Haitian foreign minister Bocchit Edmond told CNN.
The arrests come four days after the State Department issued its highest-possible travel advisory for Haiti.
“Do not travel to Haiti due to crime and civil unrest,” State advised Americans in its Level 4 warning. “There are currently widespread, violent, and unpredictable demonstrations in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in Haiti. … Protests, tire burning, and road blockages are frequent and unpredictable. Violent crime, such as armed robbery, is common. Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents, and emergency response, including ambulance service, is limited or non-existent.”
Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise took office two years ago this month but has come under strong public criticism over inflation and government corruption, leading to protests that have reportedly turned deadly in the last week.
