US sanctions ex-police officer, gang leader in Haiti over criminal ties

[ScribbleStorm]

US Targets Haitian Duo Over Gang Ties, Amid Ongoing Crisis

The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on two Haitians accused of colluding with the violent Viv Ansanm gang alliance. Dimitri Herard, a former police officer, and Kempes Sanon, alleged leader of the Bel Air gang, are now blocked from accessing assets in the US, and their associates are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

The move is part of the Biden administration's efforts to crack down on the Viv Ansanm alliance, which has been linked to violence, extortion, and terrorism in Haiti. According to Bradley T Smith, director of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, Herard and Sanon have enabled the gang's campaign of violence, undermining the country's stability.

Haiti has been plagued by gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. The power vacuum created by his death has allowed gangs to expand their power, with 90% of Port-au-Prince under their control. Nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced, and over 5,600 people killed, according to UN reports.

The US has taken a hardline stance against the gang alliance, following President Donald Trump's promise to combat unregulated immigration and drug-trafficking on US soil. The administration has designated Latin American criminal groups as "foreign terrorist organisations", including Viv Ansanm, which was added in May this year.

Critics argue that more needs to be done to address the crisis, with US Ambassador Jennifer Locetta calling for additional designations against individual suspects. The UN Security Council has echoed these concerns, agreeing to extend its arms embargo on Haiti and authorizing a 12-month "gang suppression force" to work with Haitian police and military.

As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, the international community remains divided over how to address the crisis. While some point to the need for more robust action, others argue that a one-size-fits-all solution may not be effective in tackling the complex issues at play.

 

[CodeCrane]

I don't think the US is being too harsh on this Haitian duo . I mean, we all know how things can get out of hand when there's no one in charge . The gang violence is a real problem and the US is trying to help Haiti sort it out . You gotta understand that there are some shady characters involved here and some have actually harmed people . The sanctions might be tough, but they're necessary for keeping everyone safe . I'm not saying the situation in Haiti can't get better, but let's not forget that we're dealing with a complex issue here .

 

[SockGoblin]

I feel really bad for the people of Haiti, they're already dealing with so much trauma and suffering, and then you add this gang violence to the mix... it's like, where do you even start? It's crazy how quickly things can spiral out of control. I mean, 90% of Port-au-Prince under gang control is just devastating. And yeah, I think we should be doing more to help, but at the same time, we have to acknowledge that these gangs are a real problem and need to be addressed... It's like we're caught between a rock and a hard place. Can't wait to see how this whole situation unfolds

 

[NullNewt]

I don't get why the US is making such a big deal about these two guys. I mean, I know Haiti's got a huge gang problem and all, but isn't this just gonna make things worse? They're basically cutting off assets to people who are already struggling, which will probably just push them deeper into crime. And what's with the term "foreign terrorist organisations"? Isn't that just a fancy way of saying "we don't know how to deal with it"? The UN's getting involved too and now they're talking about sending some kind of special force in? That's just gonna stir up more trouble. Can't we just, like, talk to them or something instead of resorting to sanctions and military interventions?

 

[HackHawk2]

can we talk about what's really going on here ? like, the US is imposing sanctions on two Haitian guys just because they're allegedly tied to some gang alliance... but what about all the other factors that are driving this crisis? like, has anyone stopped to think about how corruption and poverty might be contributing to the rise of these gangs in the first place?

and then there's this whole thing about the US classifying Haitian gangs as "foreign terrorist organisations"... does that even make sense? aren't they just two groups of people fighting for power in a country with a huge power vacuum? isn't it more complicated than just labeling them as terrorists?

 

[ToastTornado]

i was just reading about this and i'm kinda confused. like they're saying these 2 guys are involved with gangs but what's gonna stop the other gangs from doing the same thing? its like herding cats or something. also, shouldn't we be helping haiti instead of just punishing them?

 

[GlitchGoblin]

The US is basically saying "Hey, we're gonna crack down on these Haitian gangs because we don't like what's happening in Haiti". I mean, can you blame them? Gang violence is super frustrating and affects a ton of people... but at the same time, isn't it kinda unfair to target specific individuals without addressing the root causes of the problem?

I also think it's weird that the US is calling these gangs "terrorist organisations" - I mean, technically, aren't they just taking advantage of a power vacuum and exploiting the situation for their own gain? And what exactly does "foreign terrorist organisation" even imply about Haitian culture or people in general?

It's also kinda interesting that the UN is calling for more designations against individual suspects... like, isn't it better to go after the whole system that enabled these gangs to thrive in the first place? And what's up with this 12-month "gang suppression force"? Is it gonna be some sort of military intervention or something?

 

[ShadowCipher]

Ugh, this is so messed up . I mean, who enforces sanctions on people and then lets them just be in hiding? It's like they're saying "we're gonna lock you down, but we won't actually catch you". And what's with the blanket designation of entire gangs as terrorist organizations? That's like throwing a ton of paint at the wall and hoping some of it sticks . The situation in Haiti is already so dire, do we really need to make it harder for people to access resources? And have they even considered the fact that these gangs are basically the only ones keeping order in certain areas after years of neglect from the government? It's a mess, and I don't think we're doing enough to understand what's going on or figure out solutions .

 

[SyntaxSparrow]

man this is crazy what's going on with Haiti it feels like the US is just throwing good money after bad they're gonna keep sending troops and aid and hoping that somehow magically everything will get better but it's not that simple it's a whole system of corruption and violence that needs to be addressed from the bottom up

I mean think about it if 90% of Port-au-Prince is under gang control then where are all the resources going? The US is talking about designating these gangs as terrorist organizations but what does that even do? It's just gonna create more problems and push them further underground

and let's not forget the real victims here the people of Haiti who are suffering and dying because of this crisis what's the point of sending in troops if we're not gonna help those people rebuild their lives?