El Salvador President Says Bodies Received in Haiti Are Not Missing Hostages
Bukele Rejects Identification of Bodies as Missing Salvadorans
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele stated that four bodies handed to Salvadoran forces in Haiti are not those of the missing Salvadoran hostages abducted last week. [2] Bukele said the bodies included one of a child and another wearing a uniform from a different country's army, and that one corpse was of a man considerably taller than the missing air technicians. [2] He posted pictures showing the ID card of a GSF member and a corresponding national ID card from Chad in Africa. [2] Bukele said the bodies the mission had received included one of a man of "considerably greater height than that of our air technicians", a person "who was wearing part of a uniform from an army that is not ours", and that among the remains were identification cards and uniforms from other countries. [2] Bukele's comments poured skepticism on an earlier report in the New York Times, citing people close to the Salvadoran mission, that the bodies found on the outskirts of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on Saturday were thought to belong to the missing men. [2] The newspaper reported that the bodies delivered to the military contingent had been badly burned, meaning a medical examination would be required to identify them. [2] It cited one unnamed source briefed on the situation as saying the ID posted by Bukele in fact belonged to a soldier who had lost it when he had been injured. [2]
Abduction of Salvadoran Technicians in Haiti
The four Salvadoran air technicians were part of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force in Haiti, ambushed by heavily armed criminal groups while travelling in an armoured vehicle in Croix-des-Bouquets. [2] The hostages had been part of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which is tasked with tackling worsening gang violence in Haiti. [2] The men had been travelling back to their camp in an armoured vehicle when they were attacked in an area of the Caribbean island nation controlled by armed groups called Croix-des-Bouquets. [2] No gang has so far claimed responsibility. [2] Bukele dispatched hundreds of soldiers to Haiti solely to recover the men alive; approximately 450 have been deployed. [2] Bukele previously said the Salvadoran military operation in Haiti had the sole purpose of returning the four men alive. [2] Approximately 450 soldiers had so far been deployed, according to Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste. [2] Bukele said the four GSF members had primarily been there to "carry out medical evacuations and save lives, not to wage war". [2] When they were abducted, helicopters were deployed and multiple attempts were made to reach the location, but these efforts were hampered by fighting in the area, the Salvadoran armed forces said. [2]
Indonesian Seizure of 1.16 Tons of Ketamine
Indonesian police seized 1.16 tons of ketamine from the Malaysian-linked vessel MT Global 168, arresting eight crew members and estimating the haul could have reached 5.8 million people. [3] A joint team from the National Police, BNN, and Customs and Excise intercepted the vessel off Tanjungbalai Asahan and escorted it to Belawan Port. [3] Police seized 58 sacks containing 1.16 tons of ketamine hydrochloride (HCl) and arrested eight crew members, consisted of seven Indonesians and one Taiwanese national. [3] Police records show the Mongolian-flagged vessel sailed from Pasir Gudang, Johor, and was registered to Malaysia-based Makmur Marine Petroleum, at Suites S11 and S12, fifth floor, Menara TJB, Johor Bahru. [3] National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto said at Bandar Deli Port in Medan on Friday (Oct 23) that the operation involved the Criminal Investigation Agency, BNN, Customs, water police, and North Sumatra Police. [3] Suyudi said officers arrested eight crew members who were seven Indonesian nationals and one Taiwanese national. [3] "Officers seized 58 sacks containing a gross total of 1.16 tons of ketamine, communication devices, and the MT Global 168," he said. [3] Suyudi said the seizure was estimated to have protected about 5.8 million people from the risk of ketamine abuse, based on the amount confiscated. [3] Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad praised police for seizing 1.16 tons of ketamine aboard a vessel linked to a Malaysian company, saying the operation helped protect Indonesia’s younger generation. [3] Dasco said the case showed that drug trafficking targeting young Indonesians crossed national borders. [3] He said the joint operation had potentially saved millions of Indonesians. [3] "We must all do our part to fight a threat that can seriously harm the nation's children," Dasco said. [3]
Arrest of Wanted Robbery and Kidnapping Suspect in Anambra
Anambra State Police arrested wanted suspect Udochukwu Okafor, linked to armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and secessionist offences, who admitted snatching a pump-action firearm. [1] The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old wanted suspect, Udochukwu Okafor, popularly known as Small-Moto, during an operation in Ebenebe community, Awka North Local Government Area of the state. [1] The command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday, saying operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, arrested the suspect on Saturday following an intelligence-led operation. [1] Ikenga said preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect allegedly snatched a pump-action firearm from a vigilante operative in Ebenebe. [1] He added that Okafor had been on the command’s wanted list over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, cult-related activities and secessionist-related offences. [1] The statement partly read, “The operation was conducted by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, following intelligence-led efforts to apprehend the suspect, who was reportedly on the command’s wanted list over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, cult-related activities and secessionist-related offences. [1] “During preliminary interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to snatching a pump-action firearm from a vigilante operative in Ebenebe. [1] He also reportedly disclosed possession of a locally made short gun, which he and other members of his alleged gang were said to have used in their criminal operations. [1] The suspect further allegedly admitted to membership of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as ‘Aro-Baggers’, a group suspected of involvement in cult-related violence in Awka and its environs.” [1] Ikenga said the command had intensified investigations to recover the firearms allegedly mentioned by the suspect and establish the full extent of his suspected involvement in criminal activities. [1] He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspected members of the gang who remained at large. [1] “The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue. The command assures residents that efforts to identify and apprehend individuals involved in criminal activities will be sustained in the interest of public safety and security. [1] The command will provide further updates as the investigation progresses,” the statement added. [1]
Context of Gang Violence in Haiti
Haiti has been ravaged by gang violence for years, but the situation has worsened in the political vacuum that followed the assassination of its president in 2021. [2] The multinational force dispatched to quell the violence and push back the armed gangs has struggled to penetrate areas where they hold sway. [2] More than 5,700 people have been killed or injured by gangs or during operations against them between 1 January and 11 September this year, the UN said at the start of October. [2]
What to watch next: Bukele has continued to dispatch military personnel with the sole purpose of returning the four men alive while the multinational force in Haiti faces ongoing difficulties penetrating areas held by armed groups.
