Erik Prince Secures 10-Year Haiti Deal to Combat Gangs and Collect Taxes

Erik Prince, the Blackwater founder and prominent Donald Trump ally, has confirmed his private security company Vectus Global will remain in Haiti for the next 10 years under a deal to battle armed gangs and, once order is restored, manage a tax collection system at the border with the Dominican Republic. Speaking to Reuters, Prince said he aims to secure key transport routes within a year using foreign fighters, drones, helicopters, and boats — a plan that has drawn both support from Haiti’s leadership and criticism from rights advocates over the role of private military contractors.

10-Year Security and Taxation Plan

Prince told Reuters the agreement involves two phases: first, wresting control of roads and gang-held territories; later, designing and running a system to tax imports from the Dominican Republic — a crucial source of food, goods, and medical supplies for Haiti. He would not disclose payment details or expected tax revenues.

Escalating Deployment

Vectus began operating in March, mainly with drones, but will soon deploy several hundred fighters from the U.S., Europe, and El Salvador, including snipers and intelligence experts. Air and maritime support will also be used in coordination with Haiti’s government task force.

Political Context and U.S. Position

The deal comes after Laurent Saint-Cyr’s inauguration as transitional council president on August 7, when he urged more international assistance against gangs. The U.S. government said it has no involvement or oversight over Vectus’s operations. Analysts suggest such an arrangement would be unlikely without tacit U.S. approval, though the White House denies this.

Rights Concerns

Haiti’s Center for Human Rights Analysis and Research cautioned that reliance on private military firms could lead to abuses and divert funds from Haiti’s under-resourced security forces. Other security companies in Haiti have warned about sustaining control of reclaimed areas, given entrenched links between gangs, police, and political factions.

Haiti’s Crisis

Armed gangs have expanded control over strategic routes, attacked hospitals, and extorted civilians, leaving half the population food-insecure and thousands facing famine conditions. Gang dominance at the border has crippled trade and state revenue, undermining the government’s ability to respond to the crisis.