“Criminal gangs use a wide range of firearms and ammunition in Haiti. These include AKM and AR-15 assault rifles, such as the AK-308, FN FAL, Galil, H&K G3, ​​BM59 Beretta, and VZ58 rifles,” according to reports submitted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to the United Nations Security Council.

Recently, the media reported on the trafficking of the Barrett M82 .5013 caliber anti-materiel rifle.

Currently, the acquisition of large-caliber rifles and ammunition is a cause for concern, as previous reports noted an increasing number of 7.62 x 39 millimeter (mm), 7.62 x 51 mm, and 12.7 x 99 mm weapons in Haiti.

These, Le Nouvelliste points out, can cause a higher rate of death and serious injury.

Most of the weapons in circulation are illegal and are primarily in the hands of criminals, but also other private actors, including security companies.

The use of these devices, the newspaper emphasized, fueled a destructive cycle of violence in Haiti, resulting in serious human rights violations.

Arms and ammunition trafficking in Haiti is linked to regional and subregional dynamics, where illicit firearms are a growing concern.

This scourge is often linked to other gang activities, such as drug trafficking, fueling insecurity and violence in the region.

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