Police Inspector Arrested for Membership in Criminal Gang in Haiti

Haiti's National Police (PNH) announced on Friday, July 10, 2026, that police inspector Rubenson ELCE has been arrested for his membership in a criminal gang. The arrest took place as part of a broader crackdown on organized crime in the Pèlerin district of Pétion-Ville.

During a large-scale operation in the area, authorities dismantled a gang specializing in kidnappings and home invasions across several neighborhoods of the metropolitan region. As the investigation progressed, the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ), through its Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI), arrested inspector ELCE on June 30, 2026. He is a graduate of the 18th class of the PNH academy.

ELCE is currently being held at the DCPJ while the investigation continues. Other individuals are also being investigated in connection with the case. The arrest marks a significant step in efforts to root out corruption within Haiti's law enforcement apparatus, where ties between police officers and criminal organizations have long been a concern.