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The Haitian National Police (PNH) conducted a high-stakes operation on November 21, 2024, in the Bas Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, aiming to dismantle the notorious gang coalition “Viv Ansanm,” led by Jimmy Chérisier, better known as Barbecue. The raid, which engaged specialized police units, resulted in the deaths of two prominent gang members, but the gang leader managed to escape, leaving behind a Kalashnikov rifle.
The operation, carried out by the Intervention Group of the PNH (GIPNH/SWAT) and the Corps of Intervention and Order Maintenance (CIMO), succeeded in killing two figures tied to gang operations: “Ti Chinay” and “Ti Dyab.” Both were known for violent crimes, including hijacking fuel trucks and food container shipments. According to police reports, their deaths deliver a blow to the gang’s infrastructure, though Chérisier’s escape leaves the leadership intact.
The seizure of a Kalashnikov rifle, reportedly owned by Chérisier, was presented as a significant result of the operation. However, the unclear circumstances of his escape have raised concerns about the planning and execution of the raid.
The police statement, released a day after the operation, failed to clarify how Chérisier managed to evade capture despite the heavy deployment of elite units. This has led to speculation about operational missteps and the broader challenges facing law enforcement in combating Haiti’s escalating gang violence.
Chérisier, a former police officer turned gang leader, remains a central figure in Haiti’s security crisis. His ability to evade arrest during high-profile operations underscores the difficulty of dismantling entrenched criminal networks that dominate parts of the country, particularly in areas like Bas Delmas, considered strongholds of organized crime.
The operation in Bas Delmas is part of an intensified police crackdown on armed gangs that has reportedly led to the deaths of over 30 suspected gang members in the past week. While these efforts demonstrate the PNH’s commitment to curbing organized crime, the persistent violence continues to take a heavy toll on the civilian population. According to United Nations estimates, at least 4,544 people have died in gang-related violence this year, with over 700,000 displaced, half of them children.
While the deaths of “Ti Chinay” and “Ti Dyab” disrupt the operations of “Viv Ansanm,” the failure to capture Chérisier highlights a recurring issue in Haiti’s efforts to restore order: the inability to neutralize key figures in criminal networks. As Haiti grapples with gang-driven violence, the focus now shifts to whether the PNH can translate these short-term successes into sustainable progress in restoring security and stability.
