MIREBALAIS, HAITI – OCTOBER 12, 2025 Haitian police officer, a member of the BSAP unit, Agent Fenerl Jean, was killed during an operation targeting armed gangs. During a shootout with the gang, Jean was fatally shot. When the gangsters discovered his body, they desecrated it, beheading him posthumously and filming a triumphant video with his head.
His dead body
BSAP is a paramilitary unit established by Haiti’s Ministry of the Environment. Originally focused on protecting natural reserves, in recent years it has become involved in anti-gang operations and is a significant security actor. The unit is primarily composed of former military and police personnel and is known for its high level of training and equipment. However, its activities have also faced criticism for a lack of transparency and accusations of illegal conduct.
The gang situation in Haiti is extremely complex and dire. Gang members control up to 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and exert significant influence in other areas of the country. In 2024 alone, gang-related violence resulted in nearly 6,000 deaths – an average of 16.4 deaths per day in a country of just 12 million people. Entire neighborhoods operate under gang-imposed rules, where the government has little to no access. Ordinary police officers are often so poorly paid that they either fail to notice certain events or choose to ignore them.
