In a daring operation, Haiti's National Police agency successfully recovered a hijacked cargo ship loaded with rice after engaging in a fierce gunbattle with gangs off the coast of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The intense confrontation lasted over five hours, resulting in two police officers sustaining injuries and an undisclosed number of gang members being killed.
The police department, despite facing financial constraints, managed to secure a rare victory in combating gang violence that has plagued the country since late February. The hijacking of the transport ship Magalie by members of the 5 Seconds and Taliban gangs occurred as it departed the port of Varreux. The gangs not only seized the ship but also kidnapped its crew and looted around 10,000 sacks of rice from the cargo of 60,000 sacks destined for Cap-Haitien.
