The United States Department of State has announced a substantial financial incentive program targeting the economic foundations of two Haitian criminal organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, Washington is offering up to US$3 million for intelligence that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms supporting Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif gangs, including potential relocation for informants.
Viv Ansanm, established in September 2023 through the merger of Haiti’s two dominant gang factions (G-9 and G-Pép), has been identified as responsible for systematic violence against governmental institutions, including coordinated attacks on prisons, police stations, hospitals, and Port-au-Prince’s international airport. This campaign of organized terror directly contributed to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry in April 2024. The alliance stands accused of mass murder, collective rape of Haitian civilians, and violence against American citizens, financing operations through arms trafficking, forced recruitment of minors, and systematic extortion networks.
Simultaneously, Gran Grif, characterized as the largest criminal enterprise in Haiti’s Artibonite department, operates under the leadership of former Haitian legislator Prophane Victor. Since its formation in 2016, the organization has evolved from a politically-motivated armed group into a sophisticated criminal network. Their activities include direct assaults on Haitian National Police and United Nations-authorized security forces, notably a February 2025 attack that resulted in the death of a Kenyan MSS mission officer. The gang engages in widespread human rights violations including child recruitment, mass abductions, sexual violence against women and children, and agricultural theft.
The reward initiative specifically seeks information regarding the gangs’ revenue streams, including business operations, bank accounts, investment portfolios, and financial facilitators. Washington is additionally soliciting intelligence on donor contributions, significant financial transactions benefiting these groups, front companies operating on their behalf, and details concerning arms, ammunition, and drone transfers. This comprehensive approach targets the entire financial ecosystem sustaining terrorist activities in Haiti.