GSF seizes weapons and ammunition in operation near Port-au-Prince airport

The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) seized weapons and ammunition during an operation Wednesday north of the Port-au-Prince International Airport, as part of efforts to reclaim territory controlled by armed gangs in Haiti.

The multinational force said the operation targeted areas used by criminal groups as hideouts, staging points, and supply bases. Securing these locations is considered essential to improving security around the airport and nearby communities, restoring freedom of movement, and creating conditions for the safe return of people displaced by violence.

The GSF said its operations will continue “zone by zone and neighborhood by neighborhood” despite attacks against its personnel. The force recently warned Haitian gangs that violence, including the ambush and disappearance of four Salvadoran soldiers, would not prevent it from fulfilling its mandate.

The Dominican government said the GSF currently has 2,181 personnel in Haiti and is expected to reach 5,500 military and police members within about three months, in line with the mandate established by the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó said the Dominican Republic, which is not part of the multinational force, has contributed US$20 million to support its operations.

The GSF said securing areas around the airport and other strategic locations remains a priority as it works to expand security and restore access to communities affected by gang violence.