At that time, a document directly mentioned former police officer Jimmy Cherizier, known as Barbecue, holding him responsible for gang violence, arms trafficking, attacks on UN personnel, kidnapping of innocent citizens, and human rights violations.

They proposed a blockade on the purchase or direct and indirect transfer of weapons to criminal gangs or their leaders, but by 2025, the gangs had already gone from controlling 80 percent of Port-au-Prince to 85 percent.

Then, this year, US President Donald Trump designated the Viv Ansanm and Grand Grif gangs as terrorist organizations, enough for the bandits to seize power in 90 percent of Haiti’s capital.

In recent hours, the UN Security Council decided to impose targeted sanctions against the Haitian gang coalitions Viv Ansanm and Grand Grif, a measure that comes after the groups were officially designated as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration last May.

This resolution against the two groups bets on fighting terrorism and criminal activities that are destabilizing the country and the region through sanctions that include asset freezing, travel bans, and arms embargoes, all aimed at limiting these groups’ operational capabilities.

The actions of these gangs, including kidnappings, extortion, and clashes with authorities, greatly contributed to plunging the country into a climate of terror and chaos. However, local radio stations have commented early on that no measures against the gangs will be effective, as the bandits do not travel outside Haiti, do not buy conspicuous properties, either in their own names, or keep their fortunes in national or foreign banks. jdt/mem/joe