On August 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Michel Joseph Martelly, the former President of Haiti, for enabling the trafficking of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, to the United States. According to OFAC, Haiti has served as a transit point for illicit drugs entering the United States. Martelly, in particular, has allegedly contributed to the laundering of illicit drug proceeds, has worked with drug traffickers, and sponsored multiple gangs based in Haiti – actions that also effectively contributed to Haiti’s destabilization. In addition to the designation, OFAC imposed several prohibitions related to Martelly and added him to the Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List (“NS-MBS List”).
The designation was imposed pursuant to Executive Order 14059 for engaging in activities that materially contributed to the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. As a result, all property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving a designated person. Entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.