An American social media influencer has been kidnapped and held hostage for a $600,000 ransom during a trip to interview a powerful gang leader in the violence-ravaged Caribbean island of Haiti.
YouTube star Addison Pierre Maalouf, known online as “Your Fellow Arab,” was set to meet with notorious gang boss Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier but was taken hostage on March 14.
The Atlanta-based, self-proclaimed “storyteller” has made a name for himself online by “travel vlogging to the unknown” and documenting risky trips on his YouTube channel.
On Thursday, “Lalem,” one of his friends and colleagues, confirmed he was kidnapped earlier this month.
“Tried keeping it private for 2 weeks, but it’s getting out everywhere now. Yes Arab has been kidnapped in Haiti and we’re working on getting him out. Love yall he’ll be out soon,” Lalem posted on X.
He also shared a video that the YouTuber sent to his editor in which he explains the risks of being in a country experiencing widespread violence and political turmoil.
In the video, Mr. Maalouf told his followers that he planned to visit the nation’s capital of Port-au-Prince but decided to wait until daylight hours to travel for safety reasons.
Heavily armed gangs in the area recently freed thousands of inmates in a massive jailbreak. The violent gangs also burned down police stations and took control of the country’s only international airport.
“All it takes is one stupid gang member holding an AK-47 for one thing to go wrong,” Mr. Maalouf said in the video.
He also said that “the country is completely shut down and nobody should be coming in.” He filmed the video from an empty hotel and referred to himself as “a retarded YouTuber” who was the only person there.
It was Mr. Maalouf’s final video before being kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang. The FBI’s Most Wanted list includes the gang’s leader, Lanmo Sanjou, who allegedly participated in the October 2021 kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries in Haiti, including children. The hostages were captive for more than 60 days as the gang leader demanded a ransom payment.
Earlier this month, Mr. Maalouf hinted about a trip but did not provide specific details.
“Going on another one of those trips. If I die, thanks for watching what I’ve put out. If I live, all glory to God,” he wrote in a post on X.
His YouTube channel, which has more than 1.4 million followers, documents stories from many trips, including “100 Hours Living with the Mexican Cartel” and “Life as a Syrian Refugee Under Terrorist Rule.”
His trip to Haiti comes amid worsening civil unrest. The country currently has a Level 4, or “Do Not Travel” advisory. The U.S. State Department has warned Americans about the dangers of traveling to Haiti and specifically lists kidnapping as one of the risks.
“Kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens. Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victim’s families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members,” the travel advisory said.
The State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees from the American embassy in Port-au-Prince. American personnel who remain in the country’s capital are limited only to a confined area around the embassy and are prohibited from walking in Port-au-Prince.
In a report released Thursday, the United Nations said that an estimated 1,500 people have been killed in gang violence this year. Dozens of those victims have been stoned, lynched, or burned alive, according to the U.N.
Meanwhile, $40,000 of the ransom has reportedly been paid, but more payment is needed to secure Mr. Maalouf’s release.
