Operation in Delmas 17 & 31 recovers weapons, vehicles; high cost for police as Haiti’s security crisis continues
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – February 24, 2026 The Haitian National Police (PNH) successfully stopped an attempted kidnapping in the Delmas district on Monday, February 23, but the operation ended in tragedy with the deaths of six suspected kidnappers and two police officers, plus three others injured.
According to the PNH’s communications department (DICOP), officers engaged in a prolonged exchange of fire with the suspects in the Delmas 31 and Delmas 17 sectors. The suspects were preparing to abduct a person traveling in a Toyota Prado in the Delmas 48 area when police intervened, blocking the attempt and forcing the group to flee.
Specialized reinforcement units surrounded four suspects in Delmas 17, neutralizing them after heavy gunfire. Two more were killed in Delmas 31. Authorities recovered:
- 8 firearms (including 4 assault rifles and 4 pistols)
- 3 vehicles (a Nissan Patrol, Toyota RAV4, and Canter)
- The targeted Toyota Prado, recovered before it could be used in the crime
The operation came at a heavy cost for law enforcement. The PNH mourned the loss of two officers:
- Junior Dorelus (“Tiyò”), from Mirebalais, 32nd graduating class, assigned to the SWAT Team
- Erico Etienne, from the Delmas Intervention Brigade (BI)
Three other officers were injured and are receiving medical care.
Judge Éric Dorsainvil conducted an on-site legal assessment following the incident.
Delmas has become a notorious hotspot for kidnappings in recent months, with armed groups frequently targeting residents despite repeated police interventions. The municipality remains highly precarious amid Haiti’s ongoing security challenges, where violent confrontations highlight both the determination of security forces and the persistent threat posed by criminal networks.
L’Union Suite extends deepest condolences to the families of Officers Dorelus and Etienne, and to all injured in the line of duty. We will continue monitoring security operations in Delmas and across the capital.
Justice, safety, and peace for Haiti remain urgent priorities.
