By Gessika Thomas and Brian Ellsworth
(Reuters) – The last 12 Canadian and U.S. missionaries from a group kidnapped in October in Haiti have been freed, police said on Thursday, ending an episode that has drawn global attention to the growing problem of kidnappings by Caribbean gangs.
The group, who were kidnapped by a gang known as 400 Mawozo after visiting an orphanage, originally consisted of 17 people on a trip organized by the Christian Aid Ministries (CAM) organization based in Ohio.
Five of the hostages had already been freed in recent weeks, and the remaining 12 were found by authorities on a mountain called Morne a Cabrit, police spokesman Garry Derosier said. He declined to give further details of the case.
“Join us in praising God that our seventeen loved ones are now safe,” CAM said in a statement. “Thank you all for the prayers over the past few months.”
The 400 Mawozo gang, which controls territory east of the capital Port-au-Prince, had said it wanted $1 million to free each of the missionaries.
The gang leader, known by the nickname Lanmo Sanjou and who has appeared in internet videos wearing a Spider-Man mask, said he was ready to kill the hostages.
It was unclear whether the ransom amount had been paid.
(Report by Gessika Thomas in Cap-Haitien and Brian Ellsworth in Caracas)
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