As cocaine floods Haiti’s shores and guns outnumber law enforcement, a deadly alliance between Haiti’s elites, foreign traffickers, and complicit neighbors threatens to cement the country as a full-fledged narco-state.
Opinion | The Haitian Pulse | July 12, 2025
Haiti stands on a knife’s edge. As cocaine shipments wash ashore and armed gangs rule with impunity, the country’s fragile state risks collapsing entirely into the grip of narco-traffickers.
This is no ordinary criminal enterprise. At the center lies a network of powerful Haitian elites—politicians, business magnates, and security officials—working hand in glove with international traffickers to funnel cocaine to the United States and Europe. All the while, Haiti’s neighbors and supposed allies turn a blind eye or quietly profit from the chaos.
The Latest Crackdown
Just days ago, Haitian police engaged suspected drug traffickers in a deadly firefight. Two jumped into the ocean and drowned. Another suspect, a Jamaican national, died on shore, and a fourth—a Bahamian—was arrested. Authorities seized massive cocaine shipments, some stamped with the word “Rolex,” signaling the cartel’s signature.
This wasn’t an isolated event. The U.S. Treasury Department recently sanctioned former Haitian President Michel Martelly, accusing him of using his influence to facilitate cocaine trafficking.
“Many of Haiti’s political and business elites have long been involved in drug trafficking and linked to the gangs responsible for violence destabilizing Haiti,” the Treasury Department declared.
The implications are chilling: Haiti’s so-called leaders aren’t just failing to protect the nation—they are enriching themselves from its destruction.
A Network of Complicity
Haiti has long been a strategic transit hub for cocaine shipments heading to U.S. shores. But the drug trade isn’t powered by Haiti alone. Consider this:
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The Dominican Republic has become a critical transshipment hub for drugs entering Haiti. Corrupt Dominican officials and business leaders profit from the same pipeline poisoning Haitian communities.
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The United States, despite its “war on drugs,” continues to fuel demand. While Washington condemns Haitian gangs, it does little to stop the flow of weapons and cash that sustain them.
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Colombian and Mexican cartels leverage Haiti’s porous borders and weak institutions to move product with minimal risk.
Haiti is not merely a victim of geography. It is a victim of deliberate negligence and exploitation.
The Elites Who Profit
The names aren’t all public, but whispers in Port-au-Prince allege:
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Michel Martelly, sanctioned for his role in facilitating cocaine trafficking.
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Dimitri Vorbe, previously accused of leveraging energy contracts to build influence with gangs.
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Reginald Boulos, long rumored to have financial ties to criminal networks, though never charged.
Each has denied wrongdoing. Yet for ordinary Haitians watching neighborhoods burn and loved ones kidnapped, these denials ring hollow.
“Haiti’s political and economic elites are the shadow bosses of our misery. They arm the gangs and flood our streets with drugs,” said one Haitian security analyst, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal.
The Gangs With Bigger Arsenals Than Police
The United Nations notes that some gangs in Haiti now have more weapons than the national police. How is this possible?
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Guns smuggled from the United States, often through Florida.
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Ammo trafficked via the Dominican border, with lax controls enabling easy passage.
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Corrupt Haitian security officials, who divert arms meant for law enforcement.
The result is predictable: gangs have become de facto governments in parts of Port-au-Prince, collecting taxes, controlling markets, and waging war on rivals.
A Historical Pattern of Betrayal
Haiti’s descent didn’t happen in a vacuum. The U.S. occupation (1915–1934) dismantled local power structures, leaving a legacy of dependency. Later, Cold War politics propped up dictators who traded loyalty for U.S. cash.
Today’s narco-state dynamic is the latest chapter in this saga. Elites sell out their country to traffickers; foreign powers posture as saviors while benefiting from the chaos.
Why This Must End Now
Haiti cannot survive much longer as a narco-state. If the cocaine pipeline isn’t severed:
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Gangs will grow stronger, richer, and even more autonomous.
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Elections will remain a charade, controlled by those who profit from chaos.
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Haiti’s youth will be lost to addiction, violence, or migration.
The Call for Accountability
Haitians everywhere—at home and in the diaspora—must demand accountability.
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Expose the Elites: International media and watchdogs must name and shame Haiti’s shadow rulers.
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Demand U.S. Action: America must stop the flow of guns and hold its own enablers accountable.
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Tighten Dominican Oversight: The border cannot remain a sieve for traffickers.
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Strengthen Haitian Institutions: Haiti needs a national anti-narcotics force insulated from corruption.
“Haiti’s fight is not just against gangs—it’s against the very people who call themselves leaders,” said a former Haitian police chief.
The Haitian Pulse Perspective
At The Haitian Pulse, we deliver fearless, diasporic perspectives that challenge corruption, expose opportunism, and amplify voices too often silenced. Our reporting bridges Haiti to its global diaspora, connecting local struggles to universal calls for justice and progress. Every story we publish is rooted in integrity and an unwavering commitment to a better future for Haiti and its people.
This is not just a war on drugs—it is a war for Haiti’s soul.
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