Over 20 members of the United States (US) Congress committee on oversight and accountability have written a letter to the Attorney General Merrick Garland raising concerns over reports that U.S-made guns are being used to fuel gang violence in Haiti.
In the letter dated June 5, members of the committee indicate that gangs in Haiti have been smuggling US weapons including guns and explosives for years, adding that they have been used to wreak havoc on Port-Au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.
The growing concern of smuggling of US handguns and rifles to Haiti comes as Kenyan police officers continue preparing for their planned mission using the same US weapons.
Additionally, the committee revealed that majority of the firearms were obtained by the gangs from gun shows in the United States, particularly in Florida.
Others were acquired by straw purchasers at gun stores according to the letter.
“We are deeply troubled by reports that firearms originating in the United States being trafficked abroad are significantly fueling catastrophic gang violence in Haiti.
“Recent reports suggest that the vast majority of firearms used by Haitian gangs were obtained by straw purchasers at gun stores and gun shows in the United States, particularly in Florida,” read the letter signed by the Congress members in part.
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How Americans Are Helping Haiti Gun Smugglers
At the same time, the letter revealed that trafficked firearms manufactured by American companies are most often obtained in the United States through a practice called straw purchasing.
Subsequently, they are trafficked to Haiti and other nations through what experts call an “iron river.’
“Individuals with the ability to legally purchase firearms, most often American citizens, target gun dealers located in states with historically lax gun laws, such as Georgia and Florida, to purchase firearms and subsequently transfer them to smugglers.
These firearms are then most often smuggled “from major hubs such as Miami-Dade and Port Everglade [Florida] in the US and routed to Haiti via neighboring ports such in Freeport (Bahamas), Kingston (Jamaica), Manzanillo (Panama) and Colon (Panama),” explained the letter.
After reaching Haiti, the US guns are sold at inflated prices to Haitian gang members to facilitate the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis.
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Congress Calls for Cause of Action
Furthermore, the congress committee members indicated that Haitian gangs had overrun the capital and neighboring areas of Haiti, seizing control of 80 to 90% of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.
According to them, the crisis had escalated to level that had not been seen in decades, yet it was made possible because of the access to US weapons.
“Violence in Haiti has reached levels “not seen in decades,” and Haitian gangs reportedly “could not do what they’re doing now in terms of seizing control, effectively
seizing and controlling territory, challenging control and terrorizing the population if they did not have access to these illegal weapons,” the statement added.
Consequently, they asked the AG to propose legislative solutions aimed at blocking Haitian gangs, Mexican cartels, and other Central American and Caribbean criminal organizations from arming themselves at American gun stores and gun fairs.
“We are writing to request a briefing on federal efforts to combat the illicit flow of American firearms to criminal organizations and gangs abroad and to understand how congressional action can help address this pressing problem,
“We request that you provide a briefing to Committee staff by June 20, 2024, to assist us in better understanding what legislative solutions are necessary to support and further federal efforts,
“To block Haitian gangs, Mexican cartels, and other Central American and Caribbean criminal organizations from arming themselves at American gun stores and gun fairs,” noted the letter.
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