Santo Domingo, DR -- An intelligence report accessed by Listin Diario reveals that the weapons and ammunition used by armed gangs in Haiti come directly from the United States, a flow of arms that sometimes stops in other countries.
This constant supply has strengthened criminal organizations and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the neighboring country.
According to the report, the shipment of arms and ammunition intercepted in February 2025 on the cargo ship Sara Regina, in the port of West Haina, came from Miami. The constant supply of arms and ammunition to gangs in Haiti comes directly from the United States, which has strengthened criminal groups and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in that country.
It also stresses that its cargo form falsely described it as "household goods and mechanical parts", but inspection by Dominican authorities uncovered a large arsenal of weapons in transit to Haiti.
Gun shops and gang members
The investigation revealed that the arms and ammunition confiscated in this operation were manufactured in the United States by two companies: PMC Ammunition, headquartered in Houston, and "Fiocchi USA" and "Century Arms."
The comparison of the logos and presentations of these companies with videos published by Haitian gang members, such as Wilson Joseph, known as "Lanmò San Jou", confirms that these gangs are supplied with war material through these gun shops.
The weapons are transported camouflaged in donations of clothing and household items, and the money for their acquisition is obtained through kidnappings and ransom payments.
The report also highlights the CargoFax trading platform, which between July 2020 and March 2023, made 34 shipments from U.S. ports to individuals in Haiti.
Of these, 24 were addressed to former congressman Prophane Victor, who has been sanctioned by the governments of the United States, Canada, and the Dominican Republic for his alleged links to arming criminal groups.
The shipments to Victor were described as "personal effects, second-hand goods, and used shoes.
The information obtained also reveals that the 400 Mawozo gang is adept at acquiring weapons in the United States.
Several of its members have served time in U.S. prisons, which has allowed them to develop the skills and networks necessary to acquire the weapons they possess.
This criminal organization is also one of the main suppliers of weapons to other gangs operating in Haiti.
Devastating impact in Haiti
The intelligence report highlights that the flow of arms from the United States has had a devastating impact on Haiti's security and stability.
This, he emphasizes, has strengthened the gangs' offensive capabilities, expanding their territorial control and causing an alarming increase in kidnappings, murders, and forced displacement.
The use of these illegal trade networks has allowed gangs to operate with greater impunity, deepening social disintegration and generating a climate of terror that hampers any effort to restore stability in the country, the report states.
Illegal arms trafficking
This refers to the unauthorized trade and smuggling of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and their components. It is one of the most lucrative and widespread criminal activities worldwide.
This type of trafficking has a devastating impact on global security, peace and stability, as it:
Fuels conflict and violence: It provides weapons to criminal groups, gangs, terrorists, and militias, which intensifies violence, armed conflict, and instability in the affected regions.
Facilitates other crimes
It is intrinsically linked to other forms of transnational organized crime, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and money laundering.
It allows criminal groups to operate with greater impunity, challenging the authority of governments and undermining the rule of law.
Furthermore, the proliferation of illegal weapons increases murders, forced displacement, and human rights violations, exacerbating humanitarian crises in the affected countries.