Overview:
Haitian authorities have confirmed that Vectus World, a personal safety agency linked to Erik Prince, participated alongside police and navy items in anti-gang operations, together with a Jan. 14 raid in Delmas 6 concentrating on gang chief Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier. The acknowledgment follows months of hypothesis and comes as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle the Viv Ansanm gang coalition.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian authorities have publicly confirmed for the primary time that non-public safety personnel linked to Erik Prince’s personal navy agency took half in anti-gang operations alongside nationwide forces, together with a Jan. 14 raid concentrating on the stronghold of gang chief Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier in Delmas 6.
Officers said the operation concerned officers from the Haitian Nationwide Police (PNH), the Armed Forces of Haiti, the Prime Minister’s Process Drive, the Gang Suppression Drive and a personal navy contractor later recognized as Vectus Global.
For months, stories of mercenaries from the personal navy firm working alongside PNH had circulated extensively. Till now, nonetheless, neither the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), the prime minister’s workplace nor police management had formally acknowledged their presence.
“This operation goals to take away all terrorist gangs occupying the neighborhood and to revive peace within the space.”
Haitian Nationwide Police
The affirmation follows current remarks by Mario Andrésol, Haiti’s secretary of state for public safety, who disclosed earlier this month that Vectus World — a agency led by the previous U.S. Navy SEAL— had deployed personnel to Haiti as a part of enhanced coordination with nationwide and worldwide safety forces.
“With these personnel on the bottom, I wouldn’t say progress is being made with considerably better professionalism, however you’ll be able to really feel extra cohesion,” Andrésol stated throughout a Jan. 7 interview on Radio Magik 9. He insisted that Port-au-Prince “won’t fall” to gangs and stated authorities are working to retake key areas and reopen main routes.
“It won’t fall, and we at the moment are in a course of to retake the town heart in addition to reopen the southern and northern routes forward of the Feb. 7 occasion [possible departure of the CPT, whose mandate is set to expire].”
Erik Prince confirmed his agency’s 10-year take care of Haiti to run safety and acquire border taxes, particulars Haitian officers have prevented disclosing regardless of The Haitian Instances’ earlier reporting on the contract’s existence.
Seizures of weapons, ways and expanded operations
Safety sources say Prince-linked mercenaries started supporting operations in 2025, offering logistical and aerial help, together with helicopter assist, throughout police actions in Carrefour-Feuilles, Kenscoff and Croix-des-Bouquets. These operations led to the seizure of high-caliber weapons, together with a Barrett M82 rifle, and heavy gear utilized by gangs comparable to 400 Mawozo.
In early 2026, comparable assist was reported in operations in Bel-Air and decrease Delmas, areas lengthy managed by armed teams.
Authorities say the Jan. 14 operation in Delmas 6 follows earlier offensives concentrating on the Jamesley, Jean Gardy and Bout Janjan gangs, as police intensify efforts to dismantle Viv Ansanm, a strong gang coalition blamed for widespread violence within the capital.
“With these personnel on the bottom, you’ll be able to really feel extra cohesion.”
Mario Andrésol, secretary of state for public safety
“With these mixed items — Haitian troopers, worldwide forces and Vectus World — the police are urgent their offensive in downtown Port-au-Prince,” the PNH stated.
In line with the police’s common directorate, current operations have resulted within the seizure of about 33 firearms, greater than 12,000 rounds of ammunition, tactical vests, radios, police uniforms and press vests. Authorities reported a number of arrests and stated a number of gang members had been killed throughout exchanges of gunfire.
Police have deployed armored autos and, more and more, explosive drones in gang-controlled neighborhoods. Movies circulating on social media show drones placing buildings believed for use as gang hideouts, inflicting partial collapses.
As of Thursday, police had not launched an official after-action report from the Delmas 6 operation, and Chérizier’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Nonetheless, authorities signaled no retreat.
“This operation goals to take away all terrorist gangs occupying the neighborhood and to revive peace within the space,” the PNH stated, vowing to proceed its marketing campaign in opposition to Viv Ansanm and different armed teams working in Port-au-Prince and past.