Haitian Police Report 43 Gang Members Killed in 32 Anti-Gang Operations in Q1 2026

The Jamaica Observer and Haitian Times reported on March 28, 2026 that the Haitian National Police (PNH) conducted 32 anti-gang operations in Q1 2026 across the West, Central, and Artibonite departments, killing 43 suspected gang members. Two police officers were killed in the same period. Weapons seized included 46 rifles, 19 pistols, 6 drones, 10,659 rounds of ammunition, 5 communication radios, Molotov cocktails, and 2 armored vehicles. Police Director General André Jonas Vladimir Paraison stated that nearly 900 new police recruits had been deployed nationwide as part of the security build-up ahead of the planned August 2026 elections. Despite the operations, analysts cautioned that the PNH's total active force of approximately 15,000–17,000 officers remains significantly outgunned and outmanned relative to the 200+ active gangs operating nationwide.