Trafficking in Narcotics—Not Guilty

Evintz Brillant, a former senior Haitian police official, was acquitted today of charges that he conspired to import cocaine into the United States.^[1] Mr. Brillant was the only one of four former police officials who challenged the lengthy drug trafficking and bribery investigation conducted by the US DEA.^[2] The other officials pleaded guilty to various charges in exchange for their cooperation in the investigation into the Jean-Bertrand Aristide government.^[3] Ousted President Aristide has not been charged.^[4]

Mr. Brillant was once chief of Haiti’s anti-narcotics unit, and he was accused of taking thousands of dollars in bribes to allow shipments of tons of cocaine be trafficked through Haiti.^[5] Even though two drug traffickers and the other officials testified against Mr. Brillant, there was no wiretap or other physical evidence tying him to the criminal acts.^[6]

Conspiracy to Traffic in Narcotics
We have previously discussed conspiracy to traffic in narcotics here.

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[1] Curt Anderson, Miami Jury Clears Haitian Police Official in Drug-Bribe Case, Associated Press, Oct. 7, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.