Haiti security forces say era of unchecked gang power is over as crackdown intensifies
According to the statement, the Gang Suppression Force is working closely with the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti to carry out intelligence-led missions, targeted raids, and continued dominance patrols in high-risk zones.
Haiti’s security agencies have declared that the country has entered a new phase in the fight against armed groups, with the Force Commander of the Gang Suppression Force saying ongoing operations have shifted the balance against criminal networks that have long held communities hostage.
In a statement on Wednesday, Force Commander Godfrey Otunge said the restructured force is now operating under a unified mission aimed at ending gang dominance once and for all.
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Otunge explained that the transition from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) to the Gang Suppression Force marked a complete overhaul of the country’s security approach.
He said the changes were not symbolic, but a full reorganisation of personnel, intelligence sharing, and command structures across Haiti’s security agencies.
“This was not a cosmetic shift or a name change. It is a complete reorganisation of Haiti’s security machinery,” he said, adding that the new model has brought together all national capabilities under one coordinated focus, which is dismantling the gangs that have terrorised the population for years.
According to the statement, the Gang Suppression Force is working closely with the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti to carry out intelligence-led missions, targeted raids, and continued dominance patrols in high-risk zones.
Otunge said these joint actions are intended to show clearly that “the era of unchecked gang power is over.”
He said the teams have deployed all available assets on land, at sea, and in the air as part of a wider plan to protect communities and ensure people can live without fear.
He stressed that the operations will continue until all criminal groups are taken down.
“The bluff is over,” he said, describing the recent threats issued by gang leaders as “signs of desperation, not strength.” He said the groups have already begun to lose territory, influence, and the ability to intimidate residents.
Otunge said the unified security teams are making steady progress in disrupting gang networks, seizing illegal weapons, and pushing deeper into areas where gangs once operated freely.
“There is no safe haven left,” he said, promising continued action to “strike at the core of their command” and uproot their systems entirely.
He emphasised that the law remains the only authority in the country and warned that anyone harming civilians or challenging state authority “will face a swift, firm, and lawful response.”
The statement also urged citizens to remain calm and continue supporting the ongoing operations.
“To the Haitian people: a new dawn is emerging,” Otunge said, calling on communities to stay vigilant and cooperate with security teams as they work to close “one of the darkest chapters in Haiti’s national history.”
In closing, the Force Commander congratulated the Haitian National Football League team, saying it has shown the world the potential Haiti has when the country is stable.
“GSF joins the Haitian population in congratulating the Haitian National Football League team, which has proven to the whole world that with stability in the country, Haiti has a great potential in remaining in sports,” he said.
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