CTU Security is a Miami-based private security and mercenary company that has a very small and clandestine public presence. However, in the past three years, a spotlight has been put on CTU Security over their direct involvement in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Morise in 2021, and the aftermath, which saw the Haitian government recently collapse under pressure from gangs and the resignation of acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry. But how did a small Miami-based security company like CTU find itself helping in the (suspected) coup of the Haitian government, and what has happened to them since? This analysis seeks to investigate questions around the assassination of Jovenel Morise by 26 Colombian mercenaries and two Haitian-American mercenaries, most of whom were contracted under CTU Security, and almost all of which were arrested by Haitian police (Haitian police killed three in the aftermath of the assassination).
Armed Mercenaries outside of the residence of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, supposedly hired by CTU Security. (WLRN)
To begin, we need to cover the background of the assassination of President Morise. Morise was elected president of Haiti in 2018, however, he was sworn in much later than was the norm for Haitian elections, which became an important issue in the future. During his presidency, there were several large protest movements involving things such as rising gas and food prices, which led to riots in the largest cities of Haiti. His government struggled to respond to the ongoing unrest, and it continued for most of his term as President before his assassination. Additionally, Morise eventually chose to dissolve the Haitian parliament and temporarily rule by decree (rule via executive power/order) until his death at the hands of CTU Security mercenaries in 2021. Morise was a hugely controversial and unpopular President (like many before him), but he was especially controversial for his extended presidency. Normally, the Haitian President would only rule for a set period of around 5-4 years. However, Morise chose to only leave office after the date of his second election victory (the first election was tossed out by the government due to numerous issues). This choice to continue ruling was viewed as both illegal and an overreach of Presidential power by a majority of Haitians and contributed to internal problems plaguing his administration. But how does CTU Security, a small security contractor and equipment seller out of Doral, FL, relate to this?
Leon Charles, Director General of the Haitian Police, after giving a briefing on the Assassination. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
CTU Security was founded by Antonio Intriago in 2007, according to their LinkedIn page. CTU Security specializes in the provision of security equipment and training to clients but is also known for failing to pay debts owed to landlords and property owners whom they have rented from before. In fact, National Public Radio (NPR) obtained Miami-based court records showing that, throughout multiple years from 2011 to the present, CTU Security had been evicted from several buildings and had been taken to court over unpaid property and rental fees. However, aside from these court records, CTU Security has a very difficult-to-track history and was mostly known for selling security equipment and rifles, not providing private security services or training (though CTU still does the latter). However, despite this, there were reports that CTU Security was in contact with some rebel Haitian figures in 2020 to discuss the possibility of the future assassination. Though the details of this meeting are sparse, it’s likely that this was the meeting where CTU, under the leadership of Intriago, hired several mercenaries (who were also reportedly under the pretext that they were “protecting” the president).
Sources
Associated Press- Jovenel Moise, Haiti’s Embattled President, Killed At 53
Associated Press- Miami Security Firm Faces Questions in Haiti Assassination
The Snapper 