Haiti’s National Police Special Operations Unit carried out a major raid on the home of Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier—Haiti’s most feared gang leader. The operation as it played out in Port-au-Prince –the Haitian capital. It razed three residences associated with Cherizier’s operations, serving as a watershed in what should be an ongoing campaign to battle the spread of gang-related violence in the nation.
Jimmy Cherizier, aka “Barbecue” Recent media portrayal of Jimmy Cherizier, a notorious gang leader in Haiti, describes him as masterminding several mass violence events. These consist of numerous massacres around Port-au-Prince. He has established himself as an anti-elite revolutionary, looking to convert Viv Ansanm from a protest movement to a political party. That radical transformation is an expression of his desire to wield political power within the context of Haiti’s current chaotic reality.
The operation was carried out just a few weeks before the transitional government’s mandate is set to end on February 7th, raising concerns about the timing. Reporting from the ground, including by Gazette Haiti, indicated that the police used newly acquired drone technology during the raid. This strike produced a huge 50m blast crater and razed at least one building to the ground with damage to surrounding buildings. As unverified footage showed a massive plume of smoke wafting up from the location, it was clear that this was a high-stakes operation.
The capital, Port-au-Prince, with the multi-colored Villa Rosa neighborhood in the foreground. His criminal activities have drawn quite an extensive national spotlight. In light of this, the United States is again offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or capture. He was the first Haitian gang leader to be sanctioned under a United Nations Security Council resolution. This measure further demonstrates the world’s repudiation of his actions.
While the police operation is a success in targeting Cherizier’s properties and stature, an alternative plan for Haiti’s political succession has yet to be announced. The transitional government is under substantial pressure to restore stability to the country as gang-led violence, including kidnappings, is rising as the political situation remains uncertain.
