Armed group seizes Malpasse customs post on Haiti–Dominican Republic border

Port-au-Prince.- An armed group has taken control of the Malpasse customs post on the Haiti–Dominican Republic border near Jimaní, expelling customs officials and establishing unauthorized operations at the site since last Friday.

According to Haitian news outlet Le Nouvelliste, the group, heavily armed and aggressive, has set up an improvised toll booth to allow goods to pass through without official oversight. “Customs currently has no control over what enters Haiti through Malpasse,” a source reported. As of Monday, staff had not been able to return to their posts.

Haiti’s Customs Directorate confirmed the attackers identify themselves as “brigadiers” under the leadership of a man known as “Benbenn” from Fond Parisien. The takeover followed the seizure of three trucks carrying lithium batteries, after which the group stormed the facilities, attacked officials, damaged infrastructure, and looted seized goods and vehicles.

The incident has sparked alarm on both sides of the border due to the absence of government control in a zone critical for trade. No arrests or formal actions to reclaim the customs post have been announced so far.