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Fact Check: Russia’s accusations of US leveraging Haiti gang problem are baseless
July 11, 2024
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Transcript/ScriptPolygraph video
(PLAYBOOK SLUG: Haiti-Arms)
HEADLINE: Fact Check: Russia’s accusations of US leveraging Haiti gang problem are baseless
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BYLINE: William Echols
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Nik Yarst
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VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP
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EDITOR NOTES:))
((AFP Warring gangs to wreak havoc across Haiti WRAP ))
Warring gangs continue to wreak havoc across Haiti, displacing 580,000 people since March — 300,000 of them children — and killing thousands each year.
United Nations experts said arms smugglers in the U.S. are the predominate suppliers of firearms in Haiti.
Washington is engaged in wide-ranging efforts to stop that, but Russia contends otherwise.
"Washington could have tackled the problem long ago, if it really wanted to. Instead, it seem[s] that our United States colleagues prefer to use illegal arms shipments, on which U.S. arms dealers make money, as leverage to influence the situation.”
That is unsubstantiated.
((AFP Warring gangs to wreak havoc across Haiti WRAP ))
U.S. lawmakers know the dangers trafficked arms pose to Haiti, and the national security of the U.S.
Gun runners buy firearms in states with flexible gun laws and ship them to Haiti, where authorities lack control over its ports and borders.
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A State Department Spokesperson told Polygraph.info the U.S. is working to [quote]
“…limit outflow of smuggled firearms and ammunition to Haiti, identify and prosecute firearms traffickers, and support the Haitian National Police in countering the recipients of the majority of illicit firearms: the gangs.”
Those efforts include ramping up cargo ship searches, increasing penalties for gun smugglers, sanctioning Haitians who support criminal gangs,
…funding and equipping Haitian police, and helping Haitian authorities identify traffickers and track arms used in crimes.
((AFP U.N.-approved Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti WRAP))
The U.S. also backed the establishment of the U.N.-approved Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti
MSS forces arrived in Haiti last month to help authorities restore law and order.
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