More than 40 gang members killed this year — Haitian police
…police/gang clashes cause heavy casualties, UN says
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) -The Haitian National Police (PNH) says at least 43 gang members were killed during the first quarter of this year over a total of 32 operations across three departments of Haiti.
The police, in a statement outlining a summary of the results of operations and interventions carried out during the January to March period, said also that 46 rifles, 19 pistols, six drones and 10,659 rounds of ammunition were seized.
In addition, five communication radios, a stockpile of Molotov cocktails, and two armoured vehicles were also seized.
On Thursday, the Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system examined the spiralling crisis in Haiti, as gangs starve and extort the Caribbean island’s people.
Data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) shows that at least 5,500 people were killed and 2,600 injured in gang-related violence between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026.
In an update, the Council heard that 65 per cent of these casualties happened during operations by security forces against gang members. More than one in five victims – including children – were struck by stray bullets in their homes or on the street.
Latest indications are that gangs control most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and they are expanding into its outskirts and moving north, into the Artibonite and Centre departments.
Meanwhile, the authorities said that during another operation conducted by the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ), under the codename “Goudougoudou”, 50 individuals, including 11 women, were brought before the courts and that 76 kg of cocaine and marijuana as well as a quantity of cash and 10 vehicles were seized.
The DCPJ said one hostage was freed unharmed, seven armed criminals were fatally wounded, and the gang of Rodolphe Louissaint, alias “Chalè” was dismantled.
It said 10 officials from the General Directorate of Immigration and Emigration were arrested on Monday and that the suspects were taken to the Port-au-Prince Prosecutor’s Office for questioning on suspicion of involvement in a network issuing counterfeit passports.
