The American newspaper "New York Post" reported that Addison Pierre Maalouf, known online as "YourFellowArab," traveled from his home in Atlanta to conduct an interview with Jimmy "Barbecue" Scherizer, the leader of the notorious "G9 and Family" gang.

She added: "But only 24 hours after his arrival in the country, Maalouf and his Haitian colleague were kidnapped by members of the Mauzo 400 gang on March 14."

The leader of this gang, known as "Qingbin Lanmu Sanju", is on the FBI's most wanted list.

The source indicated that Maalouf, who is of Lebanese origin, is being held in exchange for a ransom of $600,000.

A spokesman for the US State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs told the British newspaper The Sun: "The State Department and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater priority than the safety and security of American citizens abroad."

He added: "We are aware of reports of the kidnapping of an American citizen in Haiti... and we repeat our message to American citizens: Do not travel there."

Maalouf is famous for publishing video clips in which he investigates the ins and outs of criminals and gangs around the world. He has about one and a half million subscribers on his YouTube channel.