June 13, 2026 / 2:03 PM EDT
/ CBS/AP
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Armed men snatched a highly respected security expert earlier this week in one of the few places in the capital city of Haiti to be considered relatively safe.It was not clear who kidnapped the politician, identified as James Boyard, cabinet director of the Defense Ministry and a highly respected security expert who also serves as inspector general of Haiti's police, a person with the knowledge of the situation said Saturday.He is the highest-ranking official to be kidnapped in the gang-wracked Caribbean country in recent years.A person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case confirmed the kidnapping to The Associated Press on Saturday.Boyard was seized Thursday in Bourdon, local media reported, one of the few areas in Port-au-Prince that is considered relatively safe. An estimated 70% of the capital is controlled by a powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm, which the U.S. designated as a foreign terrorist organization in May last year.Boyard, who is also a political scientist, was tasked with helping rebuild Haiti's armed forces and has helped assess Haiti's National Police to implement reforms.It was not clear whether a ransom has been requested.
