Homeland Security Investigations and Haiti Ministry of Justice establish Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit

WASHINGTON — U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) International Operations Assistant Director (AD) David J. Magdycz, and Haiti Minister of Justice Emmelie Prophete-Milcé, signed a memorandum of cooperation at HSI headquarters in Washington D.C., Feb. 13, to formally establish the Haiti Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU).

The memorandum provides the framework for TCIU operations and details the responsibilities of both parties. The TCIU will facilitate the exchange of information between law enforcement partners in the United States and Haiti, and will enhance the abilities of Haiti and the United States to investigate and prosecute those involved in transnational criminal activities. TCUIs are a critical component of HSI’s efforts to build partner nation capacity and combat Transnational criminal activity at the source, preventing its entry into the U.S.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Department of State, Chris Landberg, and leadership of the Haitian National Police (HNP), also attended the signing ceremony.

HSI’s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) program currently partners with 17 countries. TCIUs are multi-discipline units comprised of vetted foreign law enforcement, prosecutors, and customs, immigration and intelligence officials that share information and operational activities. TCIUs provide operational support to HSI personnel at foreign posts who do not possess law enforcement authority in their host nations. Through this partnership, HSI and TCIUs work together to develop and expand investigations overseas in compliance with host country laws, agreements, treaties, and U.S. mission policies.

In FY 2023 TCIU teams conducted 2,973 criminal arrests and seized:

• Over 232,218 pounds of illegal narcotics and precursor chemicals;
• 484 firearms;
• 42,957 rounds of ammunition;
• $5,363,299 in U.S. currency;
• $10,496,905 in counterfeit goods;
• $25,858,760 in seized general merchandise,
• $10,839,000 in seized real estate; and
• $451,720 in seized virtual currency and assets.

As the principal investigative component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is responsible for investigating transnational crime. In collaboration with its partners in the United States and abroad, HSI special agents develop evidence to identify and advance criminal cases against transnational criminal organizations (TCO); terrorist networks and facilitators; and other criminal elements that threaten the homeland.