Haiti’s security forces have entered a new phase in their battle against armed groups. A major police operation in the Cul-de-Sac plain, targeting notorious gang leaders Lanmò San Jou and Chen Mechan, signaled a decisive shift in the government’s approach. Several high-ranking members of the Viv Ansanm criminal coalition were killed during the operation, which one senior security official described as “one of the most consequential actions taken in recent months.”
A video released by law enforcement showed elite units seizing a significant stock of weapons, including a Browning M50 Barrett rifle believed to belong to gang boss Lanmò San Jou. The recovery of such heavy firepower underscores the scale of the threat and highlights the strategic importance of dismantling this criminal network.
The escalation did not happen in isolation. On the eve of the operation, Haiti’s National Police leadership issued an emergency directive placing the entire force on full alert. All leave and administrative permissions were canceled indefinitely. One police commander characterized the measure as “a necessary survival move in the face of unprecedented threats.” Commanders across departments were ordered to deploy their personnel at maximum capacity and submit updated operational readiness reports to the Central Directorate of Administrative Police, with the warning that any failure to comply would carry direct accountability.
The action in Cul-de-Sac was supported by combat helicopters, giving police a tactical advantage and sowing confusion within gang ranks. In the aftermath, criminal groups circulated threats of retaliation. Still, government insiders say the strategy is firmly set: the Viv Ansanm coalition must be dismantled before the end of the year. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has emphasized his priority repeatedly, insisting that “reopening all major national roadways before December is non-negotiable.”
The increased pressure on criminal networks continued into Sunday morning, when police intercepted an attempted kidnapping in Delmas 29. Two suspects were fatally shot after exchanging fire with officers, who recovered two firearms at the scene. Later in the day, bursts of automatic gunfire echoed near the airport road, a stark reminder of the volatile environment in the capital.
Despite fear of reprisals in several neighborhoods, the National Police remains on high alert. A security source said the immediate goal is to “restore a minimum level of safe mobility before the holiday season.” As operations expand and the government asserts its authority, officials hope to demonstrate that the state is gradually reclaiming ground—district by district—in a country long shaken by insecurity.
