
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti has reaffirmed its commitment to stopping the flow of illegal weapons originating from American soil. “As many Haitians have pointed out, these weapons arriving illicitly from the United States are destabilizing Haiti,” said Ambassador Henry T. Wooster.
U.S. authorities report that several individuals involved in the smuggling of weapons and ammunition to Haiti have been arrested. Two people have already been convicted, while four others have been detained or sanctioned for providing logistical support to armed groups.
The United States also says it is working alongside Haitian institutions to intercept illegal shipments of drugs and weapons moving through the country. “Our experts are training Haitians to identify the original purchasers of American firearms in order to trace supply networks,” the embassy noted.
According to Henry T. Wooster, more than 23,000 weapons, as well as cash and drugs, have been seized by U.S. investigative services this year. He called for strengthened regional cooperation to “reduce the inflow of weapons, ammunition, and drugs into Haiti” and deprive gangs of their main sources of power.
