In a significant boost to international efforts against Haiti’s notorious criminal networks, the United States government has announced criminal charges and a $5 million (approximately Ksh647 million) bounty for information leading to the arrest of gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, widely known as “Barbecue.”
US federal prosecutors on Tuesday, August 12, revealed that Cherizier and a 48-year-old US citizen allegedly solicited funds from the Haitian diaspora community to acquire firearms, in direct violation of US laws. The funds, prosecutors say, were intended to bankroll violent operations that have contributed to Haiti’s ongoing security crisis.
“Cherizier and a US associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier’s violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti,” said Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg. “The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”
Cherizier, a former Haitian police officer, is accused of multiple murders, kidnappings, and orchestrating assaults on critical government infrastructure. He is currently under sanctions by the United Nations, Canada, and the United Kingdom. If apprehended, he faces extradition to the US to stand trial for several serious offences.
The announcement comes as a welcome development for Kenyan police officers deployed under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti. Security experts believe neutralizing Cherizier’s influence would significantly weaken gang operations and improve stability in the troubled nation.
MSS Spokesperson Jack Ombaka recently confirmed that Kenyan and Haitian forces have intensified joint patrols in Port-au-Prince, securing vital infrastructure such as the main airport, seaport, and government buildings. The efforts have already enabled major public events, including the uninterrupted administration of national examinations.
The US bounty signals growing international resolve to dismantle Haiti’s most dangerous criminal enterprises, and could mark a turning point in the Kenyan-led mission’s fight against rampant gang violence.
