Malpasse Customs Under the Control of Armed Groups, a Threat to Security in Haiti
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince · · 2 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
FOND-PARISIEN, Haiti.— Located on the Haitian-Dominican border, in the district of Croix-des-bouquets, Malpasse customs experienced a violent incursion by armed gangs last week. Armed individuals, identifying themselves as the «Brigade» and led by a certain Benbenn, as he is known, stormed the customs premises. Since then, the area has been under the complete control of these armed men, denounced the General Customs Administration (AGD).
These tragic events follow an operation on May 22 by customs officers to seize two trucks loaded with lithium batteries. The AGD reported that this invasion also resulted in the destruction of crucial documents, while the Border Police (POLIFRONT) forces present on site proved unable to intervene.
The confiscation of the trucks is part of circular n° 001, implemented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), which strictly prohibits the entry into Haiti of goods in transit through the Dominican Republic. The ban, which came into effect on April 7, 2025, stipulates that all goods must now be transported by sea. However, these decisions have not been enough to prevent acts of banditry, illustrating the difficulties faced by customs authorities.
In addition to taking control of the seized trucks, the assailants also seized other goods stored in the customs yard, further compromising customs operations. This development raises concerns about the safety of customs officers and the ability of law enforcement to protect critical national security infrastructure.
These attacks are perpetrated in a context of exacerbated tensions in the region, where organized crime and the proliferation of weapons increasingly threaten the stability of the Caribbean, especially after recent significant seizures of military arsenal in the Dominican Republic destined for Haiti, as well as the convictions of traffickers in the United States.
The current situation in Malpasse reveals not only the urgency of restoring state authority but also the necessity of both targeted and comprehensive, effective responses to the widespread violence that threatens the very fabric of Haitian society.
Jean Mapou
