The United States is offering a reward of up to $3 million and potential relocation for information on the financial mechanisms of Haiti’s Viv Ansanm gang coalition and Gran Grif, targeting the groups’ extortion, kidnapping, and arms trafficking networks.
The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) said that Viv Ansanm, formed in September 2023, is an alliance established by the union of Haiti’s two main gang factions operating in Port-au-Prince, G-9 and G-Pép.
“Viv Ansanm members are responsible for an ongoing campaign of violence, including attacks against the government of Haiti, prison systems, police stations, hospitals, and the nation’s main airport in Port-au-Prince – organized terror that, among other political aims, forced the April 2024 resignation of Haiti’s then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry,” RFJ said in a statement posted on its website.
It said Viv Ansanm is directly involved in the mass murder and collective rape of Haitian civilians, including violence against American citizens in Haiti.
“The gangs leverage arms trafficking and use force recruitment, including of children, to maintain operational strength. Its main revenue comes from systematic extortion of fellow Haitians and kidnappings for ransom.”
Regarding Gran Grif, which the RFJ described as “the largest criminal organization in Haiti’s Artibonite department,” is headed by former Haitian legislator Prophane Victor.
It said that the gang was created in 2016 and its leader is arming young men in Petite Rivière, Artibonite, to secure his control over the area as well as his election in 2016.
“The armed group subsequently evolved into the Gran Grif gang. Gran Grif has attacked Haitian National Police and the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, including in the February 2025 attack that killed an MSS mission officer from Kenya.
“Gran Grif members have engaged in kidnapping, murder, beatings, and raping of women and children, the forced recruitment of children, mass abduction, as well as looting, extortion, hijacking, and stealing crops and livestock. In 2023, the United Nations accused Gran Grif of human rights abuses.”
RFJ said it is offering a reward for information leading to the disruption of the revenue sources and key financial facilitation mechanisms of the two gangs, including businesses, bank accounts, or investments owned or controlled by the gangs or their financiers
In addition, Washington is seeking information on financial contributions to these terrorist groups by donors and financial facilitators, on significant transactions by financial institutions and exchange houses that benefit either of these groups, and on front companies tied to these groups or engaged in financial transactions on their behalf.
“Criminal schemes, such as kidnap for ransom, involving Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif members and supporters who are financially benefiting the organization and transfers of funds, arms, ammunition, and drones by or to these groups and their operatives,” are also being sought.
The Department of State in May 2025 designated Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as FTOs under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order.
“As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif that are in the United States or that are in possession or control of a US person are blocked.
“US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif. In addition, it is a crime to provide material support or resources to these organizations knowingly, or to attempt or conspire to do so.”
RFJ said that persons, including US citizens, who engage in certain transactions or activities with these entities may expose themselves to sanctions risk under counterterrorism authorities.
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