Overview:
Locals in Haiti’s northern commune of Limbé help the police capture two alleged Jamaican fugitives. One of whom, Oshane “Brukhand” Francis is listed as most wanted for multiple murder cases in a Jamaica suburb.
CAP-HAITIEN — On April 24, the Haitian National Police (PNH) arrested two Jamaican men in Limbé, a commune 16 miles south of Cap-Haïtien. The men, 25-year-old Oshane “Brukhand” Francis, who is sought in Jamaica on multiple murder charges, and 31-year-old Jason Latouche, were reported to the police by local residents who suspected they were armed. The police spokesperson for the Northern Department 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,” said Arold Jean, the police spokesperson, to The Haitian Times.
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 Parish, a northwestern suburb in Jamaica. In May 2023, following a series of double and triple murders, the Jamaican police had included him on a list of five individuals urged to surrender, Nation Wide Radio JM reports. According to the Jamaican newspaper, The Gleaner, the police seized a vehicle used by Francis in June 2023 but were unsuccessful in apprehending him.
The arrested individuals had reportedly been in Haiti for about two months. One is said to have a nine-month-old son in the country, suggesting they may have left and returned to Haiti. Local residents also reported to 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 arrest occurred in the northern region’s Fort Saint-Michel, where Evan, accompanied by a Haitian accomplice, was caught carrying 192.5 kilograms of marijuana. However, it remains unclear whether this arrest is connected to those of Francis and Latouche.