The United States, United Kingdom, and the United Nations recently sanctioned Prophane Victor, a former member of Haiti’s parliament, and Luckson Elan, the current leader of the Gran Grif gang, for their alleged involvement in serious human rights abuse in Haiti and, specifically, the horrific expression of gang violence in Haiti’s Artibonite department. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control reported that Victor began arming young men in the Artibonite department in an effort to secure his control over the area and win the election in 2016. These armed men allegedly went on to form the Gran Grif gang, which is reportedly the largest gang in the Artibonite department. According to OFAC, Victor has materially supported the Gran Grif gang until at least 2020 – a gang responsible for unprecedented human rights abuse in Haiti, including kidnapping, murder, and indiscriminate attacks against the Haitian people and obstruction of humanitarian aid. Under Elan’s leadership, the Gran Grif gang has also allegedly used gender-based violence, including sexual violence, as a means of intimidation, control and extortion.
OFAC designated Victor and Elan on September 25, 2024, pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Right Accountability Act that targets those who engage in serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world. As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated persons. In addition, entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more designated persons are also blocked, unless they are exempt or authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC.
On September 27, 2024, the United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) also approved the addition of Victor and Elan to the sanctions list. The UN designated Victor for his involvement in weapons trafficking and for using violence to secure political gain, while Elan was designated for being the leader of the Gran Grif gang.
On October 1, 2024, the United Kingdom sanctioned Victor and Elan under the Haiti (Sanctions) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/1281), which subjects listed persons to assets freezes in the UK. According to the Financial Sanctions Notice issued by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, the UK government designated Victor and Elan for their involvement in activities that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti, and the entire region.
U.S. Department of Treasury Press Release | UN Security Council Press Release | OFSI Financial Sanctions Notice – Haiti