Haiti’s Security Crisis and the Arms Embargo Haiti is experiencing a severe security crisis due to gang violence in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, involving extortion, sexual violence, kidnapping, and murder. There are an estimated 270,000 to 500,000 illegal weapons in circulation in Haiti. Over 5,600 people were killed in Haiti due to gang-related activity in 2024 alone, with at least 207 killed in five days in early December 2024 in the Wharf Jérémie area. the UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Haiti in October 2022,including travel bans and asset freezes. The embargo aims to prohibit the supply, sale, or transfer of arms and related materials to gangs and individuals threatening Haiti’s peace and security. The embargo is being circumvented through trafficking routes from the US (Miami and New york) via the Dominican republic, due to weak customs enforcement and corruption. Sophisticated weapons, like Barret M82 rifles, sniper rifles, and Uzi submachine guns, are entering Haiti. UN human rights office report: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/a-hrc-58-76-auv.pdfUN Security Council: https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/
