On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Dimitri Vorbe, one of Haiti's most powerful businessmen and the latest elite figure to be detained on U.S. soil, at his home.

Vorbe was taken into custody at the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, one day after the U.S. government sanctioned Arnel Bélizaire, a former Haitian deputy, and Antonio Chéramy, a former Haitian senator, who were close to the Vorbe family, for their involvement in "significant corruption" during their tenure in office. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45839-haiti-news-zapping.html

The reasons for Vorbe's arrest and whether he faces any charges remain unclear. A search of Florida court records on Tuesday revealed no formal charges. ICE has not made any statement on the matter.

Dimitri Vorbe was previously arrested with his wife in 2020, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31604-haiti-flash-dimitri-vorbe-vice-president-of-sogener-sa-arrested-in-miami.html and then released on bail.

Vorbe and his family own Société Générale d'Énergie S.A., a private electricity company that was one of the main electricity suppliers to the Haitian state-owned utility. In 2020, the administration of former President Jovenel Moïse (assassinated on July 7, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html ) seized the Vorbe electricity company https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29336-haiti-flash-the-state-retakes-possession-of-the-power-plants-managed-by-the-sogener.html

The Vorbe family is also known for having secured major road construction and other infrastructure projects under former President René Préval.

The Vorbe family is not only economically powerful, but also politically powerful. Joël Vorbe, alias "Pacha" is a member of the powerful Fanmi Lavalas political party. A lawyer for his electricity company was appointed Minister of Justice in recent years. He later resigned after being sanctioned by the Canadian government.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31604-haiti-flash-dimitri-vorbe-vice-president-of-sogener-sa-arrested-in-miami.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29336-haiti-flash-the-state-retakes-possession-of-the-power-plants-managed-by-the-sogener.html

SL/ HaitiLibre