Haiti pledges to crack down on gangs, fight rise in crime

Haiti’s government is warning about a spike in kidnappings and other crimes as it pledges to fight gangs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Haiti’s government warned Monday about a spike in kidnappings and other crimes as it pledged to fight gangs, drawing retorts from two crime bosses that any crackdown will bring greater violence aimed at police in the already unstable country. Ariel Henry, who was installed as prime minister weeks after President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated at his home in early July, said one of his priorities is to make Haiti safer. “The current situation of insecurity in the country must be addressed, as it is of great concern,” he said at a news conference where the chief of Haiti’s National Police, Léon Charles, provided details of what authorities have done and plan to do. Saying police have identified all gangs and the zones they control, Charles said officials launched an operation Friday against a gang called “Spitfire” whose leader was killed.