Description
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Haiti’s most powerful gang leader, Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, will be indicted by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro on Tuesday alongside officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Barbecue, a former police officer, is best known for establishing the Viv Ansanm gang, a coalition of gangs through an alliance between the two main gang factions operating in Port-au-Prince, G-9 and G-Pèp, according to the United Nations.
"The group provides a unified platform for criminal groups to use violence to destabilize Haiti and quash actions aimed at restoring state control," the UN described. "Viv Ansanm has launched coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure in Haiti, including prisons, government buildings, and Haiti’s main airport in Port-au-Prince as part of a campaign that, among other things, forced the resignation of former Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry."
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned last year after facing international pressure to make way for new leadership in the country overwhelmed by violent gangs.
Laurent Saint-Cyr, a wealthy businessman, became the head of Haiti’s transitional presidential council last week as Barbecue threatened to overthrow the government.
“Our country is going through one of the greatest crises in all its history,” Saint-Cyr said as he was sworn in. “It’s not the time for beautiful speeches. It’s time to act.”
Chérizier warned residents in a social media video to give his armed group free passage through neighborhoods to reach the council's office.
“People of Haiti, take care of yourselves and help us in the battle to free the country," Chérizier said.
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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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