On Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Bourdon, Inspector General James Boyard of the Haitian National Police (PNH), who is also Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defense and a security expert, was intercepted by a group of heavily armed men on the road linking Bourdon to Lalue, a route designated as a high-security zone.

The kidnappers did not target only the Chief of Staff; they kidnapped him along with his wife and six-year-old daughter, the latter being an American citizen. This is the highest-ranking official kidnapped in Haiti in recent years. This information has been confirmed by the Associated Press.

According to Haitian police sources, investigators suspect the "Ti Bwa" gang, led by Christ-Roi Chéry, alias "Chrisla" of being behind the kidnapping.

Contrary to initial uncertainty, a ransom demand, the amount of which is unknown, was quickly issued by the kidnappers for the hostages' release. The Ministry of Defense has not issued any press releases or made any detailed official statements regarding the ongoing operations. This silence is typical in high-profile kidnapping cases in order to protect the lives of the hostages and avoid jeopardizing negotiations or intervention strategies.

"A person of this rank usually receives significant police protection," said Diego Da Rin, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. According to him, this kidnapping suggests that it was carefully planned and likely required the complicity of someone close to the kidnapper's security detail.

He also noted that gangs often kidnap individuals with dual nationality and target public figures. This could mean they are seeking higher ransoms and perhaps also deterring authorities from attacking certain gang-controlled territories where victims are being held, Da Rin explained.

Police recently conducted a raid on Village de Dieu, controlled by the 5 Segond gang, led by Johnson André. Better known as "Izo" he is considered one of Haiti’s most powerful gang leaders.

Da Rin observed gangs taking some kidnapping victims to Village de Dieu.

In recent years, high-profile kidnappings have targeted individuals such as Haitian journalists and international missionaries. At least 267 people were kidnapped between December 2025 and February 2026, mostly men, according to a UN report.

SL/ HaitiLibre