Haitian Police Neutralize Gang Leader Mathias Saintil in Port-au-Prince

Haiti’s National Police (PNH) confirmed on Friday that Mathias Saintil, the leader of the Boston gang, was neutralized during a law enforcement operation in the capital. The Boston gang takes its name from a neighborhood in Cite Soleil, a impoverished section of Port-au-Prince.

Police sources stated that Saintil was struck by multiple bullets during the raid. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime took to social media to mark the event. He wrote, “One less gang leader. The battle to liberate the country from the grip of bandits continues with determination. The gangs won’t be able to sleep!”

This operation occurs against a backdrop of escalating violence that has destabilized the nation since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. No national elections have been held in the years since that event. Organized crime has expanded its reach, claiming large swaths of territory.

According to the United Nations, at least 26 gangs operate in and around the capital. These groups control as much as 90 percent of Port-au-Prince, including key roadways and maritime ports.

The crisis has displaced at least 1.4 million people from their homes. The UN reports that 1,123 Haitians were killed in gang-related violence between July and October of this year. Another 440 people were injured during that same period.

Sexual violence rates remain high amid the conflict. Between July and August, there were 689 reported cases of gang-involved rape. The UN estimates that half of the country’s gang members are children and teens under the age of 18.

An international Gang Suppression Force (GSF) began arriving in Haiti in April with a mandate to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs. The UN Security Council renewed this mandate in September, extending it until March 2027. Proponents of the force argue it lacks sufficient resources and staffing.

Tensions with the GSF have recently intensified. On October 18, four Salvadoran aviation technicians involved with the force were kidnapped. In response, El Salvador deployed as many as 2,000 troops to Haiti.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele described the deployment as a rescue mission. He stated, “We have one single objective: to ensure our four compatriots return home alive and unharmed.” Bukele also warned gang leaders, saying, “Today’s attack is nothing compared to what is coming if you do not return all four hostages alive.”

In a post on Friday, Bukele interacted with a social media user who suggested they had identified the residence of a prominent Haitian gang leader. He asked, “Where is this house located? Give us the exact address, and we will destroy it.”