PORT-AU-PRINCE — James Boyard, cabinet director of Haiti's Defense Ministry and inspector general of the National Police, was abducted by armed men in the Bourdon neighborhood of Port-au-Prince on Thursday.

The identities of the abductors have not been confirmed by investigators. Investigators also do not know if a ransom has been requested in connection with the abduction.

Boyard has a background in political science and was assigned to assist with rebuilding the Haitian armed forces. He also helped evaluate the police to implement policy reforms. Diego Da Rin, an International Crisis Group analyst, said, "A person of this rank clearly has a fairly important security detail."

The abduction possibly required detailed planning and collaboration from someone within Boyard's security detail. Abductions are occurring with increased frequency in neighborhoods previously considered secure. Gang members sometimes wear police uniforms to stop drivers during simulated security checkpoints.

Criminal groups may demand larger ransom payments to deter law enforcement operations in territories where hostages are held. Abduction victims are occasionally transported to the Village de Dieu neighborhood. The police recently conducted a raid in Village de Dieu, a neighborhood controlled by the 5 Segond gang, led by Johnson Andre, who uses the alias "Izo."

Recent high-profile abductions have targeted journalists and foreign missionaries. A U.N. report documented 267 abductions between December 2025 and February 2026. The majority of these victims were men, according to the report. The document also recorded 1,268 abductions in 2025 and 2,058 abductions in 2024. The Viv Ansanm gang coalition controls an estimated 70 percent of Port-au-Prince. The U.S. designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization in May 2025.