France 24 report: The underside of gangsterism in Haiti and the inertia of the authorities
As Prime Minister Dr. Garry Conille imposes thinly veiled restrictions on online journalists covering police operations, live or on tape, a worrying situation is emerging. Foreign journalists have exposed disturbing practices by interviewing gang leaders and bandits, thus demonstrating a little-known dimension of the climate of crisis prevailing in Haiti.
Opulence and impunity for gang leaders
Images broadcast by France 24 show the opulence of a gang leader, still wanted by the police since the massacre of six police officers in Village de Dieu in 2019. This ringleader of banditry enjoys ostentatious luxury while evading justice.
The images reveal not only his extravagant lifestyle, but also his almost invulnerable protection. The bandits’ statements point to the involvement of oligarchs in the arms and ammunition trafficking, but so far no significant action has been taken against these powerful players.
Inaction in the face of the oligarchs
While the authorities focus their efforts on the “petty bandits”, the oligarchs suspected of supporting these groups remain untouchable. None of them are wanted by the police and none are in custody. The activities of these economic elites continue unhindered, while violence and chaos reign on the country’s roads.
Road control and taxation
The gang in question exercises rigid control over a vital national highway linking the capital to Haiti’s southwest. Vehicles using the road must pay a tax imposed by the armed men, turning the right to travel into a financial burden on citizens. Rates vary depending on the type of vehicle, illustrating the systematic method of collecting illegal taxes, a human rights activist said.
Corporal TiLapli’s links and the invisible sponsors
One of the gang’s leaders, TLapli, nicknamed the “kidnapping king”, during this interview with France 24, claims not to act on his own initiative, but under the influence of powerful sponsors whom he refuses to name. This character infamous for his kidnappings, including that of a Parisian notable, underlines the seriousness and scale of his criminal activities.
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