US sanctions former Haitian security head, gang leader for aiding gang coalition

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on two key figures tied to gang violence in Haiti: Dimitri Herard, the former head of Haitian presidential security, and Kempes Sanon, a notorious gang leader. These actions come amid ongoing turmoil following the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s former President Jovenel Moïse.

Herard, a former police officer, was imprisoned in connection with Moïse’s assassination. However, after escaping from prison in 2024, he reportedly “colluded” with Viv Ansanm, Haiti’s most powerful coalition of gangs that has wreaked havoc across the nation in recent years.

According to the Treasury Department, Herard provided training and firearms to gang leaders and actively supported Viv Ansanm’s coordinated attacks against state institutions.

The sanctions also target Kempes Sanon, the head of the Bel Air gang, one of the key groups within the Viv Ansanm coalition. Sanon has been accused of orchestrating indiscriminate civilian killings, extortion, illicit taxation, and kidnappings that have terrorized communities throughout Haiti.

Bradley T. Smith, director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, emphasized the significance of these sanctions. He stated, “Today’s action underscores the critical role of gang leaders and facilitators like Herard and Sanon, whose support enables Viv Ansanm’s campaign of violence, extortion, and terrorism in Haiti.”

As a result of these sanctions, all properties owned by Herard and Sanon in the United States are frozen, and all business transactions with them are prohibited.

Since Moïse’s assassination plunged Haiti into chaos, gang violence has devastated the country. For years, armed groups have violently taken control over large portions of Haiti, terrorizing civilians and complicating international efforts to restore peace and stability.

The Treasury Department’s latest sanctions signal a continued commitment to disrupting the networks that fuel violence and instability in Haiti.
https://wtop.com/national/2025/10/us-sanctions-former-haitian-security-head-gang-leader-for-aiding-gang-coalition/

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