On October 17, 2025, the United States and the United Nations took coordinated action against two of Haiti’s most notorious figures, imposing sweeping sanctions in an effort to curb the rampant gang violence that has destabilized the Caribbean nation. The men at the center of this crackdown—Dimitri Herard, former head of presidential security, and Kempes Sanon, leader of the Bel Air gang—stand accused of fueling a powerful criminal coalition known as Viv Ansanm, which both U.S. and U.N. officials have labeled a foreign terrorist organization.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the sanctions early Friday, targeting Herard for his support of Viv Ansanm and designating Sanon for his leadership of the Bel Air gang, a key component of the coalition. According to OFAC and multiple international news agencies, these two men have played central roles in the violence and instability that have plagued Haiti since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Herard, who once served as the head of the general security unit at Haiti’s National Palace, was imprisoned in connection with Moïse’s assassination. In a dramatic turn, he escaped from prison in 2024. Since then, U.S. and U.N. officials allege, Herard has “colluded” with Viv Ansanm, providing “training and firearms” to gang leaders and directly backing coordinated attacks against state institutions. The U.S. Treasury Department stated that Herard’s support “directly backs Viv Ansanm’s coordinated attacks against State institutions.”
Sanon, meanwhile, has led the Bel Air gang—one of several constituent groups in Viv Ansanm’s alliance—through a campaign of “indiscriminate civilian killings, extortion, illicit taxation, and kidnappings.” The U.N. Security Council highlighted that Sanon’s gang, which numbers about 150 members and is based in the Bel Air neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, has been instrumental in consolidating Viv Ansanm’s grip on the capital. The U.N. also accused Sanon of maintaining a network of contacts within government institutions, including security agencies, which has allowed him to evade arrest and continue his criminal activities.
“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,” Bradley T. Smith, director of OFAC, said in a statement cited by AP News and CMC. He added, “The United States is committed to holding accountable the violent terrorist gangs that endanger the Haitian people.”
The sanctions have far-reaching consequences. All property and interests in property owned by Herard and Sanon in the United States are now frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting any business with them. OFAC warned that violations could result in civil or criminal penalties, not just for U.S. citizens but also for foreign entities that engage in certain transactions with the designated individuals. The agency further cautioned that foreign financial institutions could face secondary sanctions if they knowingly facilitate significant transactions on behalf of Herard or Sanon.
In a powerful show of international unity, the U.N. Security Council followed the U.S. announcement with a unanimous resolution. The resolution orders all 193 U.N. member states to freeze the men’s assets and impose travel bans. It also enacts a new arms embargo on Haiti, a country awash in illegal weapons—many of which, according to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, are trafficked in from the United States, especially Florida.
The crackdown comes at a time when Haiti’s security situation is dire. Since the assassination of President Moïse, gangs have expanded their control to roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, according to the United Nations. Their reach now extends into the countryside, with criminal activities including looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults, and rape becoming alarmingly common. The government has struggled to reassert control, with no president in office since Moïse’s murder and state institutions under regular attack from coordinated gang operations.
Herard’s trajectory from presidential security chief to alleged gang facilitator is a stark illustration of Haiti’s unraveling security apparatus. After his 2024 escape from prison, he is said to have provided not only weapons but also tactical training to gang leaders, bolstering Viv Ansanm’s ability to launch sophisticated attacks against government targets. The U.N. Security Council specifically implicated Herard in facilitating the trafficking of arms and ammunition into Haiti, further exacerbating the violence.
Sanon’s criminal career is equally notorious. Beyond leading the Bel Air gang, he is accused of orchestrating a wide range of human rights violations, from kidnappings to extortion schemes. The U.N. resolution noted that Sanon himself escaped from prison in 2021, where he had been incarcerated for kidnapping, theft, and assassination. Since then, he has continued to destabilize Haiti, leveraging his connections within the government to avoid capture.
The sanctions are part of a broader international effort to stem the tide of gang violence in Haiti. Both the U.S. and U.N. have emphasized the need to target not just the foot soldiers but the facilitators and leaders who enable criminal networks to flourish. By freezing assets, blocking business transactions, and restricting movement, officials hope to disrupt the financial and logistical lifelines that sustain groups like Viv Ansanm.
Yet, the challenges remain immense. Despite repeated international interventions, Haiti’s gangs have only grown in power and sophistication. The influx of illegal weapons, porous borders, and widespread corruption have created an environment where criminal organizations thrive and ordinary citizens live in fear. The new arms embargo imposed by the U.N. aims to cut off the flow of weapons, but enforcement will require cooperation from multiple countries and agencies.
For Haitians, the latest sanctions offer a glimmer of hope that the international community is serious about addressing the crisis. However, many remain skeptical that such measures alone can reverse the country’s downward spiral. As one Port-au-Prince resident told AP News, “People here want to see real change, not just words or signatures on paper.”
Still, the coordinated actions by the U.S. and U.N. mark a significant escalation in the fight against Haiti’s gangs. By targeting high-level facilitators like Herard and Sanon, the world is sending a message: those who perpetuate violence and chaos in Haiti will face consequences—no matter how powerful or well-connected they may be.
