PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian security forces on Wednesday struck three houses linked to Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a top gang leader and spokesman for the Viv Ansanm coalition, according to local outlet Gazette Haïti, after unverified videos circulated online showing a powerful blast in the capital that levelled at least one building and damaged nearby structures.
It was not immediately clear whether the operation resulted in deaths, injuries or arrests. Gazette Haïti reported that police later entered the targeted location and recovered equipment.
Haiti’s National Police said earlier that it was conducting an operation aimed at Chérizier’s house in Delmas 6, a neighbourhood long associated with armed groups aligned with him. The strike appeared to be part of a broader escalation in state tactics as authorities attempt to degrade gang command nodes in Port-au-Prince, where criminal groups have repeatedly overwhelmed police positions and disrupted basic services.
Chérizier, a former police officer, has emerged as one of Haiti’s most prominent gang figures, accused by rights groups and foreign governments of involvement in major atrocities and violent campaigns across the العاصمة. He has portrayed himself as an anti-establishment figure and has at times suggested a political role for Viv Ansanm, a federation that brings together many of the capital’s armed groups.
International pressure on Chérizier has increased sharply. The United States has offered up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction, and US authorities have pursued sanctions-related cases tied to the gang network.
The operation also highlights controversial security partnerships and methods. Reporting on the strike said the action drew on multiple components, including government task forces that have employed explosive drone operations. Haiti’s government has also relied on support from Vectus Global, a private security firm run by Blackwater founder Erik Prince, which has been linked in reporting to drone support and broader security assistance.
Those tactics have drawn scrutiny from international observers. In October 2025, the UN human rights chief warned that some anti-gang operations — including drone strikes — may involve disproportionate and potentially unlawful use of force, underscoring the challenge of restoring security while meeting human-rights obligations.
The latest strike comes weeks before a February 7 deadline tied to Haiti’s transitional governance timetable, with political actors still under pressure to outline next steps for succession amid deepening insecurity.
