FBI tells Americans to consider 'costs of being kidnapped' before traveling to Haiti

The FBI issued a dire warning telling U.S. citizens and permanent residents to avoid travel to Haiti as gang violence plagues the Caribbean nation.

"While we understand that there are strong ties between Haiti and South Florida, before traveling there one should consider the trauma and financial costs of being kidnapped not only to themselves but to their family and friends as well," FBI Supervisory Special Agent Liz Santamaria said, The Miami Herald reported Tuesday.

The FBI's Miami branch says it has seen 300% more kidnappings during the first three months of 2023 than it did in the same period of time last year. The agency would not release exact figures, but some South Florida residents have fallen victim in recent weeks and have been ransomed for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Haiti is under a "Level 4 – Do Not Travel" warning from the U.S. State Department.

Gangs have taken over 60% of the capital of Port-au-Prince since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021, according to The Associated Press.

Earlier this week, a vigilante mob in Port-au-Prince pulled 13 suspected gang members from police custody and beat and burned them to death.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.