SAN SALVADOR / PORT-AU-PRINCE — President Nayib Salvadoran leader Nayib Bukele has dramatically expanded his anti-crime campaign beyond national borders, setting his sights on Haiti’s powerful criminal underworld. Following a direct challenge issued on social media, military forces linked to El Salvador have targeted high-profile gang hideouts in Port-au-Prince, prompting some militant factions to seek international mediation. 

The cross-border intervention escalated rapidly after Bukele utilized social media platform X to track down the whereabouts of Wilson Joseph, alias "Lanmò San Jou," the leader of the notorious Haitian gang 400 Mawozo. Prompted by user-submitted geographic coordinates, a joint operation involving local law enforcement and Salvadoran military assets struck and dismantled a primary base associated with Joseph. Although the gang leader managed to evade capture by shifting locations, the tactical precision of the strike sent shockwaves through local criminal networks. 

This aggressive projection of military force follows the October disappearance of four Salvadoran aviation technicians who were serving in a multinational security mission. Enraged by the ambush, Bukele dispatched thousands of troops—operating largely outside traditional multilateral frameworks—to locate the missing personnel and dismantle local syndicates. The deployment has seen troop numbers swell to an estimated 2,500 personnel backed by specialized air support. 

The sudden military pressure has already altered the tactical landscape. Reports indicate that Mathias Saintil, a prominent leader of the "Boston" gang in Cité Soleil, was fatally wounded in a recent drone strike. Facing unprecedented firepower, gang leaders have begun adopting a defensive tone. Correspondence reportedly sent by Joseph to United Nations leadership has appealed for neutral third-party mediation, warning that an unyielding military offensive risks severe humanitarian blowback. 

Haiti has endured prolonged institutional instability and rampant gang violence since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. While Bukele’s domestic track record—highlighted by massive penal facilities and plunging homicide rates—has earned him widespread admiration among weary Haitian citizens, the foreign intervention has also sparked international scrutiny regarding legal transparency and command accountability. 

Despite these concerns, official backing from regional partners is solidifying. Dominican Republic leadership has offered vital logistical and intelligence channels, while Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé publicly commended the foreign military contributions. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé is slated to travel abroad next week to coordinate the long-term roadmap for security cooperation and troop presence, signaling a pivotal turning point in Haiti’s struggle to reclaim state authority.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]