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Haiti, woman poisons 40 gang members with empanadas: arrested

The food seller turned herself in to the police after confessing to acting out of revenge against the ‘Viv Ansanm’ gang

A food saleswoman was arrested in Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti, on charges of poisoning and killing 40 people, allegedly affiliated with the notorious ‘Viv Ansanm’ gang, led by former policeman Jimmy Cherizier, known as ‘Barbecue’.

The woman, who habitually supplied the gang with food, added a toxic substance used against parasites to her empanadas. According to the newspaper Le Nouvelliste, the suspect acted alone, motivated by hatred towards criminals who had allegedly killed her family members in the past.

After the poisoning, fearing retaliation, the woman spontaneously went to the police to confess to the act. The authorities decided to keep her identity secret to ensure her safety.

The incident took place in one of the capital’s most violent neighbourhoods, in a context dominated by armed crime and aggravated by the political crisis that has affected the country since 2021. The ‘Viv Ansanm’ gang has repeatedly been accused of attacks against infrastructure and institutions, contributing to the instability that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

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