The Troubling Arms Trade in Haiti
Recently, a video gained significant traction online featuring Joseph Wilson, a notorious leader of a Haitian gang. In the footage, Wilson is seen shirtless, exuberantly displaying belts of .50 caliber ammunition while making a mockery of his situation. He humorously noted that he uses these armor-piercing bullets as grooming tools for his hair, stating, “We have enough combs for our hair to last a year.” This statement raises the question: how did he acquire such weaponry?
Haiti does not manufacture firearms, and the shipment of any weapons into the country is illegal. Nonetheless, the gangs that have taken control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, seem to have an endless supply of guns and ammunition. Experts estimate that there are around 20 armed factions operating within the city, equipped with a variety of weapons including AR-15 and Galil assault rifles, shotguns, and Glock handguns.
The United Nations has estimated that between 270,000 and 500,000 firearms are circulating illegally in Haiti, with a majority of these weapons falling into the hands of gangs. This overwhelming firepower has severely undermined the already limited capabilities of Haiti’s police force, contributing to an alarming death toll of over 5,600 homicide victims last year — a staggering increase of more than 1,000 compared to the previous year.
Despite an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations on Haiti three years ago, the streets are flooded with weapons, predominantly sourced from the United States. These firearms are frequently acquired by straw buyers and illicitly smuggled into Haiti, either by sea or overland through the Dominican Republic, according to reports from the United Nations.
The gravity of this situation has prompted the Haitian government to implement stringent restrictions on imports along its land border with the Dominican Republic. Currently, only goods that are produced within the Dominican Republic are permitted; any products originating from elsewhere must navigate through Haiti’s perilous gang-controlled seaports.
