Arrest Made For International Narcotics Trafficking
WESTON, Fla. - The indictment against Guy Philippe - , 48, of Haiti, was unsealed this morning at the United (U.S.) District Court in the Southern District of Florida. Philippe was arrested on January 5, 2017 in Haiti by the Haitian National Police narcotic unit that works regularly with the Drug Enforcement (DEA) Port-au-Prince Country (CO). The same day, Philippe was flown to the U.S. by the DEA Air Wing and agents from the DEA West Palm Beach District (DO) to face charges of international narcotics trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
Today, Philippe was ordered held without bond during an initial hearing before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Philippe’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2017.
Philippe was indicted in 2005 on one count of conspiracy to import narcotics; one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and engage in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity; and one substantive count of engaging in monetary transactions derived from unlawful activity.
According to the indictment, from approximately 1997 through 2001, Philippe conspired with others to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. From approximately June 1999 through April 2003, Philippe also allegedly conspired with others to engage in money laundering to conceal their participation in criminal activity, including narcotics trafficking. The indictment alleges that in 2000, Philippe transferred a $112,000 check through a financial institution, affecting interstate and foreign commerce, that included monies derived from the illicit drug trafficking enterprise.
The case against Philippe was investigated by the DEA West Palm Beach DO and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Office of International Affairs. In addition, the DEA Port-au-Prince CO, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Miami Office of Field Operations and the Haitian Government, including the Haitian Ministry of Justice, Haitian National Police BLTS, provided assistance with the arrest of Philippe.
The case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida.
