US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE1790

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 PORT AU PRINCE 001790 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA 
DS/DSS/ITA 
DSERCC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ASEC, HA, Haitian National Police 
SUBJECT: HNP BRIEF ON DREAD WILME GANG INFORMATION 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Douglas M. Griffiths, reasons 1.4 (B) 
and (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: A Haitian National Police (HNP) contact 
recently provided a copy of an investigation supposedly 
conducted by an outside consultant to the HNP on the subject 
of Cite Soleil gang leader, Dread Wilme. The document, dated 
May 2005, gives a brief background of Wilme, his weapons, 
activities and politics, as well as a list of principal gang 
members and their weapons. At the end of the document there 
is also a list of gang members killed or wounded in recent 
months. Post is unable to confirm the reliability of the 
document or details of how the information was obtained. 
Below is a summary translation of the document. End summary. 
 
 
Overview of Dred Wilme's criminal gang 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Emmanuel Wilner, known as "Dread Wilme", was born in 
the commune of Ferrier (Ouanaminthe) before moving to the 
Delmas 2 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, and later the Bois 
Neuf area of Cite Soleil. Wilme's gang began as a 
neighborhood "Vigilance Brigade" but was co-opted by Lavalas 
to conduct pro-Aristide missions soon after the attack on the 
National Palace on December 17, 2001. In the years since, 
Wilme consolidated power over the entire slum area of Cite 
Soleil, gaining total supremacy following the death of rival 
gang leader of the Boston district, Thomas Robinson (alias 
"Labaniere") on March 30, 2005. Wilme's gang is now the most 
powerful, best structured criminal organization in Haiti, and 
Dread Wilme is the most powerful criminal in the country. 
 
3. (SBU) Cite Soleil is divided into a series of 
neighborhoods, each controlled by a gang lieutenant who 
reports directly to Wilme in Bois Neuf. Wilme controls the 
provision of weapons and resources to all the other gang 
chiefs in Cite Soleil, and is connected to some degree to 
other criminal gang leaders throughout the country. This 
explains the collaboration that arose between Wilme and 
former self-proclaimed ex-FADH leaders Ravix Remissainthe and 
Grenn Sonen. 
 
 
Weapons Sources 
--------------- 
 
4. (C) The gang possesses an array of arms of every caliber, 
including rifles and pistols. These weapons were obtained 
from four principal sources: 
 
A) Weapons distributed to the gang directly by the Lavalas 
regime; 
 
B) Weapons stolen during attacks against police officers, 
foreign soldiers, and security guards from the area around 
Cite Soleil; 
 
C) Arms purchased on the black market in Haiti and the 
Dominican Republic; 
 
D) Weapons furnished by other sources (Note: Judicial Police 
Director Michael Lucius has suggested that weapons also flow 
from sympathizers in the Dominican Republic and from HNP 
officers, notably from the anti-gang unit (SAIG) and former 
Palace Guard members (septel). End note). 
 
5. (C) Ammunition is obtained mostly via a pipeline of 
couriers coming from the Dominican Republic. The majority of 
the ammunition passes through the border at Ouanaminthe 
before making its way to Port-au-Prince (specifically Rue des 
Cesars), hidden in cartons of tomato sauce and other produce. 
Wilme and his lieutenants, "Amaral" and "Beken," are the only 
members who make contact with the ammunitions couriers. 
Transport of the ammunition is led by a small, red Yamaha 
motorcycle. Other suppliers, including "Ti DGI" and "Dread 
Claude", also obtain weapons and ammunition from other 
suppliers on the local market. 
 
 
Gang structure 
-------------- 
 
6. (C) Each local gang lieutenant controls a few dozen 
"soldiers." Any hint of betrayal is punished by the murder of 
the entire family of the soldier. Wilme tightly controls all 
cellphones possessed by gang members and other Cite Soleil 
residents. The number of soldiers is constantly increasing 
due to the integration of the "Argentines," bandits who came 
to Cite Soleil to fight voluntarily or because they were 
sought by the police. There are twelve lieutenants, each who 
control a specific neighborhood: 
 
Archange -- Wharf (17 soldiers) 
Amaral -- Belecourt (20-25 soldiers) 
Zaro -- Soleil 17 (15 soldiers) 
Wallas -- Projet Drouillard (unknown soldiers) (Note: Wallas 
reportedly was killed in June. End note) 
Beauvais -- Soleil 4 (11 soldiers) 
Berson -- Soleil 19 (28 soldiers) 
Reginald -- Soleil 19 (5 soldiers) 
Yoyo Pimam -- Rue La Paix (8 soldiers) 
Evens -- Boston (30 soldiers) 
Ti Rail -- Soleil 9 (8 soldiers) 
Bazile -- Soleil 13 (8 soldiers) 
Ti Dodo -- Norway (9 soldiers) 
 
 
Financial sources 
----------------- 
 
7. (C) Wilme's gang receives money from three primary sources: 
 
A) Carjacking -- vehicles stolen and later ransomed back to 
the owners or resold elsewhere; 
 
B) Kidnapping -- Kidnapping is controlled tightly by Dread 
Wilme and Amaral. The soldiers typically used for kidnapping 
are: Frantsy, Daniel, Papo, Belony, Claude, and Evens; 
 
C) Commercial extortion -- Certain business owners regularly 
give Dread Wilme protection money. 
 
 
Politics 
------- 
 
8. (C) Dread Wilme remains in contact with ex-President 
Aristide. In addition, a religious leader visits Wilme 
regularly to perform religious ceremonies and deliver 
provisions (food, oil). (Note: the name of the leader is not 
named though it is suggested he is a man of some political 
stature, ie. Father Jean Juste. End note). 
 
 
HNP contacts 
------------ 
 
9. (C) Wilme maintains numerous contacts at the head of the 
HNP who inform him of operations and procure ammunition for 
him. Communication with these HNP contacts is handled 
directly by Wilme or by "Ti DGI." (Note: Lucius told us July 
1 that "Ti DGI" is the leader of weapons procurement for the 
gangs and is one of the HNP's "Most Wanted." End note). 
 
 
Medical care 
------------ 
 
10. (C) Wounded soldiers are never taken to the hospital, but 
rather, following every battle with police, a Red Cross 
vehicle comes to care for the wounded in the center of Cite 
Soleil, specifically at Soleil 19 at the entrance to the 
Saint Anne church. The chauffer of the "religious leader" 
cited above also is an expert in removing bullets and is used 
for that purpose. 
 
 
Partial list of soldiers and their arms 
--------------------------------------- 
 
11. (C) Below is a partial list of soldiers and their weapons 
as of May, 2005: 
 
Dread Wilme -- Bois Neuf, galil and 9mm pistol 
 
Alain Cadet -- Bois Neuf, T65 
Amaral -- Belecourt, galil 
Archange -- Wharf, T65 
Bab Mamoune -- Soleil 19 (originally Rue 9), Fhal 
Babayo -- Soleil 9, Fhal 
Bebe -- Boston, galil 
Bebe -- Soleil 19, 38 revolver 
Beken -- Belecourt, 12 guage (in charge with ammunition 
purchases) 
Belony -- Bois Neuf, M14 
Beauvais -- Soleil 4, T65 
Benecia -- Projet Drouillard Bloc O (Wilme's cook) 
Berson -- Soleil 19, T65 
Blan Manni -- Belecourt, M14 
Bofolio -- Soleil 13, Uzi 
Boss -- Belecourt, Uzi 
Bric-a-Brac owner on Ruelle la Paix -- Uzi, M1, 9mm pistol 
Cinquante -- Soleil 17, 38 revolver 
Claude -- Boston, M1 
Dadou -- Boston, Uzi 
Damacene -- Fougie, T65 
Daniel -- Bois Neuf, M1 
Diol Bokit -- Soleil 13, Kalashnikov 
Doya -- Belecourt, Uzi (Amaral's brother) 
Dread Matino -- Carrefour Duvivier, pistol 
Evens -- Boston, Fhal 
Fhararon -- Projet Sainte Catherine, galil 
Ford -- Bois Neuf, ADP Pistol 
Francillou -- Soleil 17, T65 
Frantsy -- Bois Neuf, M14 
Frantz "Tchoule" -- Soleil 17, Kalashnikov 
Frantzo -- Belecourt, M18 
Fredi -- Bois Neuf next to Wilme, T65 
Grap -- Boston, galil 
Gros Toutou -- Soleil 19 (originally from Delmas 2), M18 
Italien -- Bois Neuf, automatic weapon purchased for $35,000 
James Genelus -- Soleil 17, M4 
Johnny "Ti Paste" -- Butte Boyer, Kalashnikov 
Josue -- Soleil 9, 38 revolver 
Junior -- Soleil 19, M1 
Junior -- Soleil 19, M1 
La Bab -- Belecourt, galil 
Lemaire -- Soleil 4, 9mm Lorcin 
Lionel -- Linteau 1, 12 guage 
Makenson -- Boston, Kalashnikov (works on SMCRS, a USAID 
project) 
Manni -- Soleil 9, 13 guage 
Manno -- Soleil 13, 9mm Ruger 
Maxo -- Soleil 17, MP5 
Moise -- Soleil 17, Kalashnikov 
Nasson -- Linteau 1, M14 
Oswald -- Soleil 13, Uzi 
Papa -- Soleil 19, Uzi 
Papo -- Bois Neuf, Carrefour 3, M1 
Pierre-Eddy -- Soleil 19, Uzi 
Raymond -- Belecourt, M14 (Amaral's brother, prison escapee) 
Reginald -- Soleil 19, T65 
Robene -- Projet Sainte Catherine, M16 
Robenson -- Soleil 6, 38 revolver 
Sassa -- Butte Boyer, Uzi 
Sauveur -- Wharf, M14 
Sony -- Bois Neuf, Uzi 
Tchatchou -- Rail, MP5 
Ti Bazile -- Soleil 13 (and Carrefour-Ferio), Uzi and M1 
Ti Ben -- Projet Sainte Catherine, galil 
Ti Blanc -- Boston, 9mm pistol 
Ti Bob -- Soleil 19, M1 
Ti Braker -- Boston, Fhal 
Ti Dodo -- Norway, M14 
Ti Evens -- Boston, M4 
Ti Fre -- Soleil 13, M1 
Ti Gana -- Soleil 19, 38 revolver 
Ti Jude -- Boston, 38 revolver 
Ti Linto -- Butte Boyer, Uzi 
Ti Piye -- Belecourt, 38 revolver (Amaral's brother) 
Ti Polis -- Bois Neuf, Kadafi (washes Wilme's car) 
Ti Pouchon -- Boston, M18 
Ti Rail -- Soleil 9 
Ti Roro -- Soleil 6, 38 revolver 
Ti Samuel -- Linteau 1, 38 revolver 
Tije -- Boston, 9mm pistol 
Toto -- Soleil 19, 12 guage 
TouMouri -- Bois Neuf, Galil (dead) 
Toutou -- Soleil 13, 12 guage 
Toutou one -- Soleil 19 (originally from Delmas 2), M18 
Wallas -- Projet Drouillard, M18 
Wesly -- Soleil 19, Kalashnikov 
Willeme -- Soleil 9, 12 guage 
Willio -- Boston, T65 
Yoyo Pimam -- Rue La Paix, Fhal 
Zaro -- Soleil 17, galil 
 
Soldiers killed or wounded by the HNP or MINUSTAH (as of May, 
2005) 
Catrino -- Wharf, Even's partner, killed 
Damacene -- Soleil 4, wounded 
Demosthene -- Belecourt, killed 
Dread Fanfan -- Bois Neuf, killed 
Fedia -- Wilme's driver, wounded 
Jeannot -- Carrefour Vincent, Evens partner, wounded 
Josue -- Bois Neuf, wounded 
Mercidieu -- Soleil 13, killed 
Sony -- Bois Neuf, wounded 
Steevens -- Projet Drouillard, killed 
Ti Elifete -- Linteau, wounded 
Ti Francios -- Belecourt, killed 
Ti Lepe -- killed 
Ti Piti -- Belecourt, killed 
Toumouri (Ronald Pierre) -- close associate of Wilme, killed 
 
 
GRIFFITHS