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Miami — US Authorities said Wednesday that arms smuggling into Haiti and the Caribbean has surged in recent months, citing a move to combat trade that is fueling widespread gang violence in Haiti and an increase in crime in the region. promised to strengthen its efforts.
The announcement follows a bloody outbreak of gang violence in Haiti, including a shootout in downtown Port-au-Prince, that has led countries such as the Bahamas and Jamaica to commit gun-related murders.
"Not only has there been a marked increase in the number of weapons, but there has also been an increase in the caliber and The variety has increased significantly," said Special Agent Anthony Salisbury. Responsible for Homeland Security Investigation Miami.
"We are stepping up our efforts to stem the flow of illicit arms into Haiti and the Caribbean," he said, referring to other agencies such as the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection. Surrounded by agency officials.
The seized weapons display for Haiti included a handgun and an array of semi-automatic weapons, one of which he identified as a sniper rifle.
Legal export of arms from the United States generally requires a license from US authorities. Haiti is still subject to the 1990s arms embargo, amended to allow some exceptions for the export of arms to Haitian security forces.
In the United States, guns are frequently acquired through straw buyers. Some buyers claim that the final end of the gun he is the user, but later illegally export.
A string of recent arms-trafficking scandals in Haiti included the discovery last month of weapons in shipping containers labeled as church donations, sparking protests against the constant flow of guns. ignited anger.
The seizure followed a fierce turf war in the coastal town of Cité Soleil in July that left more than 471 people dead, injured or missing. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth, Editing by Alex Richardson)
