Durrant Pate/ Contributor

Two alleged Jamaican fugitives have been apprehended in Haiti’s northern commune of Limbé, 16 miles south of Cap-Haïtien.

They are 25-year-old Oshane “Brukhand” Francis, who is listed as most wanted for multiple murder cases in Jamaica and 31-year-old Jason Latouche. They were held by the police after residents called in the lawmen suspecting the Jamaicans were armed and dangerous.

The Haitian Times is reporting that on April 24 this year the Haitian National Police (PNH) arrested two Jamaican fugitives. A police spokesperson for the Northern Department, Arold Jean confirmed that Francis is a known fugitive in Jamaica.

“We are grateful to the community for their vigilance and will continue encouraging them to report any unusual activities” Jean told The Haitian Times.

Men now facing extradition

Jean further revealed that INTERPOL is facilitating the extradition of Francis and Latouche to Jamaica. The timeline for their transfer is yet to be determined. Currently, the two are being held in a jail in Cap-Haïtien.

Francis, also known as Brukhand, had been identified as the most wanted individual in St. James. In May 2023, following a series of double and triple murders, the Jamaican police had included Francis on a list of five individuals urged to surrender.

The police reportedly seized a vehicle used by Francis in June 2023 but were unsuccessful in apprehending him. He is said to have been living in Haiti for about two months.

Local residents told the police that the two men owned a small boat, likely used for the 333-mile journey from Jamaica to Haiti. However, the police have not yet located the boat or the alleged weapons.

However, during the arrest operations, PNH officers found marijuana joints in the possession of the individuals. On February 13, Mitchell Winston Evan, another Jamaican citizen, was arrested by Haitian police.

The Haitian Times reports that the arrest occurred in the northern region’s Fort Saint-Michel, where Evan, accompanied by a Haitian accomplice, was caught carrying 192.5 kilogrammes of marijuana. However, it remains unclear whether this arrest is connected to those of Francis and Latouche.