Before and After: Mapping the Impact of Gang Violence on Port‑au‑Prince
Utilizing the analytical framework presented in our earlier analysis of the “Baz 5 Second” gang and the Viv Ansanm coalition, Haiti Policy House draws on open-source intelligence gathering (OSINT) to show what’s really happening on the ground. This time, we harness accessible, widely available technology tools that don’t require multimillion-dollar budgets to provide policymakers and readers with verifiable evidence from inside gang-controlled areas. Where surveyors or journalists cannot safely reach, satellite imagery and publicly shared videos still reveal the story.
Most Impacted Areas
Centre Ville
Downtown Port-au-Prince, once the civic center of the country, is now surrounded by damaged buildings. In this view, we highlight Haiti’s Supreme Court, also known as Cour de Cassation.
Credit: MediadroneHT509
https://www.tiktok.com/@mediadroneht.509/video/7496977858544389381
Solino
Once a dense working-class neighborhood. Recent imagery shows collapsed housing clusters.
Credit: DroneHaiti007- https://www.tiktok.com/@dronehaiti007
In Contrast, The Gangs Built a Mansion in Canaan
While entire neighborhoods face significant destruction, gang leaders reportedly amass substantial wealth. The satellite images below show the mansion built within the past year, attributed to Jeff Larose, also known as Jeff Gwo Lwa, highlighting the gap between widespread devastation and personal wealth. He was sanctioned in 2025 by the European Union for “forcible recruitment of children, kidnapping, homicides and sexual and gender-based violence”.
Jeff Larose plays a major role in creating recruitment propaganda for the Viv Ansanm coalition through his production company, “Gwo Lwa Production,” and his leading artist, “Speedy Trip Kap Fet,” who has nearly 18 million views on YouTube.
These images and videos serve as evidence of the profound impact of violence on Port-au-Prince, including widespread displacement and significant challenges to public safety. They further highlight how open-source technology can provide valuable insights, even with limited resources.
Top 20 Gang-Related Sanctions & Arrests (2021–2025)
The following is a list of business elites, gang leaders, and senior politicians who have been sanctioned for gang-related crimes in Haiti. It prioritizes international actions from the United Nations, European Union, United States, Canada SEMA (Special Economic Measures Act), United Kingdom, plus key Dominican Republic entry bans.
| Name | Reason (short) | Sanctioning country/org & year(s) | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Chérizier (“Barbecue”) | Threatening Haiti’s peace & stability; serious HR abuses; later U.S. criminal case | UN list (2022, amended 2023); UK implements UN; U.S. DOJ indictment (2025) | United Nations, United Nations Press, gov.je |
| Johnson André (“Izo”) | Leader, 5 Segond gang | UN list (HTi.002, 2023); UK implements UN | NSSEC, United Nations, gov.je |
| Renel Destina (“Ti Lapli”) | Leader, Grand Ravine | UN list (HTi.003, 2023); DR entry ban (2022) | United Nations |
| Joseph “Wilson” Joseph (“Lanmò San Jou”) | Leader, 400 Mawozo; hostage-taking | UN list (HTi.004, 2023); U.S. indictment/Wanted | United Nations, Department of Justice |
| Vitel’homme Innocent | 400 Mawozo/“Kraze Barye” leader; kidnappings | UN list (HTi.005, 2023); U.S. indictment & reward | United Nations, Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| Christ-Roi Chéry (“Chris-La”) | Ti Bwa gang leader; SGBV, kidnappings | EU autonomous list (2025); DR entry ban (2022) | Consilium |
| Micanor Altès | Wharf-Jérémie gang leader; massacre responsibility | EU autonomous list (2025) | Consilium |
| Jeff Larose ("Jeff Gwo Lwa)" | Canaan gang leader; child recruitment, homicides | EU autonomous list (2025) | Consilium |
| Joseph Lambert | Ex-Senate President; drug trafficking & gang collusion | U.S. OFAC (2022); Canada SEMA (2022) | U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC, Canada.ca |
| Youri Latortue | Ex-Senate President; drug trafficking & gang collusion | U.S. OFAC (2022); Canada SEMA (2022) | U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC, Canada.ca |
| Gary Bodeau | Ex-Chamber of Deputies head; major bribery schemes | U.S. OFAC (GloMag) (2023); U.S. 7031(c) visa ban (2023); Canada SEMA (2022) | U.S. Treasury, Federal Register, U.S. Department of State, Justice Laws |
| Rony Célestin | Senator; corruption & drug-linked conduct | U.S. 7031(c) visa ban (2022); U.S. OFAC (2022); Canada SEMA (2022) | U.S. Department of State, U.S. Treasury, Canada.ca |
| Hervé (Richard) Fourcand | Former senator; drug-linked conduct | U.S. OFAC (2022); Canada SEMA (2022) | U.S. Treasury, Justice Laws |
| Michel Joseph Martelly | Ex-President; drug trafficking support & gang sponsorship (per OFAC) | Canada SEMA (2022); U.S. OFAC (2024) | Reuters, U.S. Treasury |
| Laurent Salvador Lamothe | Ex-PM; significant corruption (PetroCaribe) | U.S. 7031(c) visa ban (2023); Canada SEMA (2022) | U.S. Department of State, Reuters, Justice Laws |
| Jean-Henry Céant | Ex-PM; financing/enabling gangs (per Canada) | Canada SEMA (2022) | Justice Laws |
| Gilbert Bigio | Business magnate; enabling gangs incl. money laundering | Canada SEMA (2022) | Canada.ca, Gazette |
| Reynold Deeb | Business elite; enabling gangs | Canada SEMA (2022) | Canada.ca |
| Sherif Abdallah | Business elite; enabling gangs | Canada SEMA (2022) | Canada.ca |
| Reginald Boulos | Business elite; arrested by U.S. ICE (immigration custody) | United States – ICE arrest (2025) | Ice.gov |
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What should rebuilding look like?
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