Director-General/Executive Director
Monsieur le Président,
Excellences,
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Je vous remercie de me donner l’occasion de vous informer sur la situation en Haïti, conformément à la Résolution 2692 du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies et au paragraphe 19 de la résolution 2743.
Aujourd’hui, je vous présente les conclusions du huitième rapport de l’ONUDC à ce Conseil, couvrant les développements survenus entre mars et juin 2025.
Ce rapport montre que le contexte sécuritaire et criminel en Haïti devient de plus en plus complexe.
Ce qui était déjà une situation grave est en train de dégénérer davantage.
Les gangs armés étendent leur emprise, adaptent leurs tactiques, et démantèlent ce qui reste de l’État de droit, tandis que le peuple haïtien continue de subir les conséquences.
Excellencies,
Since our last briefing, organized criminal groups have gained near-total control of the capital, with an estimated 90 per cent of Port-au-Prince under their grip, while they continue expanding across strategic routes and border regions.
In March, gangs affiliated with the Viv Ansanm coalition launched coordinated attacks on multiple infrastructure sites across the city of Mirebalais, including its prison facility, which led to the escape of 529 high-risk detainees, many with links to firearms, drugs, and human trafficking.
The audacious attack showcased the gangs’ increasing willingness and capacity to challenge state authority.
As reported by IOM, the aftermath of the attack also further compounded Haiti’s humanitarian crisis, with over 51,000 residents, including more than 27,000 children, forced to flee to nearby towns such as Lascahobas, Belladère, and Hinche.
At the same time, vital public infrastructure is being disrupted.
In May, the Péligre hydroelectric dam, which supplies nearly 30 per cent of Haiti’s electricity, was shut down by local residents who blocked access to the facility in protest against the deteriorating security situation, which triggered widespread blackouts.
Beyond Port-au-Prince and Mirebalais, violence is escalating across the country.
Southern Haiti, which until recently was insulated from the violence, has seen a sharp increase in gang-related incidents.
And in the east, criminal groups are exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladère and Malpasse, where attacks against police and customs officials have been reported.
Distinguished Members of the Council,
As gang control expands, the state’s capacity to govern is rapidly shrinking, with social, economic, and security implications.
In the vacuum left by the absence or limited delivery of public services, criminal groups are stepping in.
They are establishing parallel governance structures and providing rudimentary public services.
This erosion of state legitimacy has cascading effects.
With gangs controlling major trade routes, legal commerce is paralyzed.
Container traffic at the Port-au-Prince terminal has plummeted, choking off supply chains and crippling the economy.
Prices of essential commodities have soared as a result. For example, the price of rice – Haiti’s staple food – has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2022, while cooking fuel now sells for up to five US dollars per gallon on the black market.
These conditions are worsening already dire levels of food insecurity and humanitarian need.
Alongside this, we are seeing a rapid growth in the number and activities of private security companies and vigilante self-defence groups.
While some are motivated by the urgent need to protect their communities, many operate outside existing legal frameworks, in some cases engaging in extrajudicial actions and colluding with gangs.
All of these actors are pushing demand for guns and military-grade weapons, fuelling illicit arms markets and raising the risk of licit weapons being diverted to criminal elements.
We are also witnessing the increasing use of drone technology by both law enforcement and criminal groups.
Gangs have been using drones for surveillance for over a year, particularly to monitor police movements and secure their zones of control.
This tactic was notably employed during the March 2024 attack on the National Penitentiary and continues to be a routine element of their operations, reflecting an increasing level of tactical coordination and situational awareness.
In response, the Haitian Security “Task Force” established by the government in early 2025 has begun deploying surveillance and explosive drones to gather intelligence in real-time, carry out targeted strikes, and regain control of gang-occupied territory.
The use of drone technology and military-style engagements in densely populated civilian areas raise further concerns about the lack of a clear legal or operational framework and adequate safeguards.
Meanwhile, the broader deterioration of the security and economic situation in Port-au-Prince continues to fuel a sharper escalation in human rights violations.
Reports increasingly point to sexual exploitation targeting women and girls, particularly among those facing deportation or living in areas under gang control.
Even more disturbing are new allegations of trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal.
In May, Haitian police raided a medical facility in Pétion-Ville suspected of being involved in the illicit organ trade, while reports of organ removal have also surfaced in a hospital in northern Haiti.
These cases must be investigated urgently, impartially, and transparently, and medical institutions suspected of complicity must be held accountable.
In parallel, the forced repatriation of Haitian migrants from several countries in the region continues, often to zones of acute insecurity, without basic protection or services, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of already at-risk populations.
It is crucial that any measures taken to manage migration are implemented in full compliance with international human rights law.
Mr. President,
Despite the scale and complexity of these challenges, the Haitian authorities have taken some encouraging steps during the reporting period, particularly in the fight against corruption and arms trafficking.
The Haitian Ministry of Justice decided to freeze the bank accounts of individuals sanctioned under UNSCR 2653 and launched related investigations that must be supported to lead to robust judicial outcomes.
I commend the recent decree establishing two Pôles judiciaires spécialisés to prosecute complex financial crimes, corruption, and cases of sexual violence.
These institutions must now be operationalized without delay and reinforced through coordinated international efforts to ensure they are adequately equipped, resourced, and protected.
Recent investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit – the ULCC – are also yielding results, uncovering systemic abuse across government institutions, including embezzlement, contract fraud, and illicit passport issuance schemes.
The situation in Haiti remains desperate but these are promising and necessary steps, and we must build on them.
International support must be scaled up for financial accountability and anti-corruption mechanisms, including in the digitization of government systems, forensic auditing, and the establishment of international investigative partnerships to detect and prosecute high-level corruption.
Haiti’s judicial authorities must be empowered to act on financial intelligence with clear legal mandates and prosecutorial autonomy.
International assistance must be mobilized to establish robust regulatory frameworks and increase oversight of private security companies.
The development of criminal intelligence capacities is essential to provide Haitian judicial, law enforcement, and security agencies with the ability to respond effectively to the violence and instability caused by organized crime.
International action to counter organized crime, including through the recent designation of the Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif gangs, must also ensure that responses do not lead to disruptions to essential services, including humanitarian aid in gang-controlled territories.
Excellencies,
UNODC continues to work on the ground together with our Haitian counterparts to help restore security and the rule of law.
I wish to highlight in particular the critical importance of UNODC’s work on maritime and border security.
UNODC is delivering technical assistance, tactical equipment, and specialized training to the Haitian Coast Guard, enhancing their capacity to counter weapons and drug trafficking at sea.
Our border security strategy is helping to strengthen institutional and operational capacities at ports, airports, and official land border crossings.
This includes enhancing interdiction, improving inter-agency coordination, and sharpening investigative capabilities, to safeguard Haiti’s borders and bolster regional security.
And the work led by UNODC to support the justice system in revamping anti-corruption structures in the country is vital restoring stability in the country and a priority objective for the current transitional governance model.
Regional cooperation also remains crucial, particularly given the use of multiple land and sea entry points to smuggle arms, ammunition, and illicit goods into Haiti.
I would like to commend the efforts undertaken by neighbouring countries in this regard.
For example, recent action by law enforcement authorities in the Dominican Republic led to the seizure of two large shipments of illicit firearms at the port of Haina.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, authorities arrested individuals involved in transnational trafficking operations, while law enforcement officials in The Bahamas seized large sums of illicit cash linked to organized criminal networks.
These operations highlight the importance of sustained and coordinated regional action to combat organized crime and disrupt the financial and logistical flows that fuel the violence in Haiti.
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Avant de conclure, je tiens à saluer notre partenariat constructif et notre étroite collaboration avec le BINUH sous la direction de la Représentante spéciale du Secrétaire général, Maria Isabel Salvador.
Je souhaite exprimer ma sincère reconnaissance pour sa direction exemplaire et son engagement au service du peuple haïtien et des Nations unies.
L’ONUDC s’engage à continuer à travailler avec le BINUH, les institutions haïtiennes, et nos partenaires internationaux pour restaurer la stabilité, renforcer les systèmes de justice pénale et faire respecter l’État de droit en Haïti.
Je vous remercie de votre attention.
