Dimitri Herard

Dimitri Herard has engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti and has supported criminal activities that undermine the country’s institutions and exacerbate its humanitarian crisis. Herard is the former head of the National Palace General Security Unit (USGPN) under President Jovenel Moïse. He has played a key role in enabling the activities of criminal networks and gangs in Haiti, including supporting the Ti Bwa gang in creating a special combat unit named “Back up 100 plak,” which has increased its fighting capacity. Herard has been implicated in facilitating the trafficking of arms and ammunition, which have fueled gang violence and destabilized the country. His actions have contributed to the expansion of gang control over key areas, further undermining Haiti’s security and governance.

Dimitri Herard is a former Haitian police officer and head of the National Palace General Security Unit (USGPN). From 2017 to 2021, he engaged in actions that threatened the peace, security, and stability of Haiti. In particular, he was charged by the Haitian authorities for complicity in threatening the country’s national security, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and attempt to the life of the former First Lady, Martine Moise. Mr. Herard was arrested in July 2021. He escaped from the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince on 2 March 2024 and is currently wanted by the Haitian National Police (HNP) for a range of violent crimes that include homicide, burglary, rape, armed robbery, acts of terrorism and escape from prison. Dimitri Herard represents one of the primary threats to both the political transition in Haiti, as well as to any future government. He has been supporting individuals sanctioned by the United Nations,- including Jimmy Chérizier (alias “Barbeque” – HTi.001); Johnson André (alias “Izo” – HTi.002) and Renel Destina (alias “Ti Lapli” – HTi.003), he has strong ties with some of the most violent gangs in Haiti and has been colluding with the Viv Ansanm alliance, as well as with Guy Philippe and other political, private and security actors with whom he is currently conspiring to seize control of the country by force. Mr. Herard is behind Viv Ansanm‘s coordinated attacks against State institutions that started in late February 2024, including planning the attacks and providing certain gangs with training and firearms. Since his escape from prison, Mr. Herard has sought refuge with the 5 Segond gang (led by Johnson André, alias “Izo” - HTi.002) in the Village de Dieu neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, and with Guy Philippe in Pestel, Grand’Anse department. During his service at the USGPN, Mr. Herard played a significant role in fuelling the trafficking of illicit arms and drug in the country by diverting HNP weapons, importing arms and ammunition illicitly from abroad, and moving drugs for criminal organizations in the region. Dimitri Herard continues to be involved in significant criminal activities that have fuelled gang violence and instability across Haiti, including human rights violations and the obstruction of the delivery and distribution of, and access to, critical humanitarian assistance in the country. He was sanctioned by Canada for having committed acts that undermine the peace, security and stability of Haiti on 21 March 2025. He has provided logistical support to criminal gangs and political actors who aim to overthrow the government and is also an associate of Izo, already sanctioned by Canada for reasons concerning serious and systemic human rights violations.

Dimitri Herard has engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti and has supported criminal activities that undermine the country’s institutions and exacerbate its humanitarian crisis. Herard is the former head of the National Palace General Security Unit (USGPN) under President Jovenel Moïse. He has played a key role in enabling the activities of criminal networks and gangs in Haiti, including supporting the Ti Bwa gang in creating a special combat unit named “Back up 100 plak,” which has increased its fighting capacity. Herard has been implicated in facilitating the trafficking of arms and ammunition, which have fueled gang violence and destabilized the country. His actions have contributed to the expansion of gang control over key areas, further undermining Haiti’s security and governance.