Rapper turned Haitian warlord ‘Izo’ and took on ‘Barbecue’ to gain control of the world’s most dangerous city with the ‘5 Seconds’ gang
RAPPER, YouTuber and a gangster on the side: this is the man who wants to take on warlord ‘Barbecue’ and control the most dangerous city in the world.
Izo Vilaj de Dye is only 26, but is believed to be behind a series of kidnappings Haiti and perhaps even have more power than infamous Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier.
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Rumor has it that Barbecue earned his nickname for setting his victims on fire, and is in the eye of the storm as the capital Port-au-Prince degenerates into a total civil war.
The 47-year-old fired police officer turned warlord heads the city’s most fearsome gang coalition, known as the ‘Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies’ – or G9 for short.
Together with his armed loyal fighters, Barbecue has contributed to tearing the city apart for yearsinflicting terror, sexual violence, torture and lawlessness.
But he could now face stiff competition in the battle for power in the most dangerous city on earth.
A new crime boss
Izo Vilaj de Dye, born Johnson André, is one of them Haiti‘s rising star when he received an award for his rap videos YouTube for gaining 100,000 followers.
But behind the gangster bling front lies a ruthless criminal whose gang is involved in rape, kidnapping, drug and arms trafficking, police say. United Nations.
He is also accused of obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid. the BBC reported.
It is said to be inspired by artists like Kendrick Lamar and French Montana, Izo released his debut single in November 2021, just after 17 foreign missionaries were kidnapped by rival gang 400 Mawozo.
His song accused the Haitian government of providing the gangs with assault rifles.
At just 26 years old, Izo is the boss of one of Haiti’s most violent gangs, Baz 5 Segond (5 Seconds).
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The gang is reportedly in control of Village of God, one of Haiti’s poorest slums and where five officers were killed in a botched raid in 2021.
The area is also known for high kidnapping rates. SHAME reports.
Unlike his warlord counterpart Barbecue – who likes to talk to reporters in his trademark body armor – the young thug tends to social media to publish music videos instead of expressing his political views.
But that doesn’t mean he has less criminal power.
Romain Le Cour, who has been investigating the gangs in Haiti for years, told the BBC that Izo has an excellent ability to take control of the sea channels in the Bay of Port-au-Prince.
This allows him to avoid areas controlled by other gangs transport weapons quickly.
According to the UN, Izo is alleged to have taken advantage of Haiti’s “fragile security environment” to profit from the cocaine trade, with some shipments apparently coming directly from South America into the Vilaj de Dye area under his control.
In its research into the gang crisis in Haiti, the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) examined Izo’s ambitions to expand its territorial authority beyond the city.
His group’s entry into Mirebalais, some 21 miles north of the city, resulted in fatal clashes between members of his 5 Segond gang and vigilantes, leaving 30 people dead.
According to the study, the violence displaced at least 800 people from their countries houses.
Mr Le Cour added that Izo’s drug trafficking and arms smuggling network will be particularly difficult to dismantle because it is so diversified that he does not hesitate to sell weapons to his rivals.
Reign of fire
It is not yet known how far Izo Vilaj de Dye will go in his attempt to take control of Port-au-Prince, as the stricken capital is currently in the hands of Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier.
The fired cop turned warlord takes to the streets with new vengeance and a plan to overthrow the government.
He is the man behind a new vicious wave of coordinated attacks within Port-au-Prince that have caused unimaginable scenes of violence.
Dozens have been killed, two prisons have been emptied, more than 4,000 dangerous prisoners are at large and anti-government riots have swept the city.
A state of emergency has been declared and Haiti’s is minimal Police Force fights to control the worst violence sweeping through the capital.
Barbecue has emerged as the most visible face of the latest violent unrest and is one of the most outspoken enemies of Ariel Henry, who has now resigned as Prime Minister of Haiti.
Barbecue – who reportedly earned his nickname for setting his victims on fire – sees himself as a “revolutionary,” a self-declared “man of the people.”
However, his methods include killing, maiming and extorting anyone unlucky enough to fall into his grasp, making every day a constant battle for the residents’ survival.
The former elite police officer is accused of directing numerous large-scale massacres in Port-au-Prince’s poorest neighborhoods.
He is currently being sanctioned by Britain and its allies for “engaging in acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Haiti.”
And his influence is growing rapidly as the country plunges into further unrest, sparked by the 2021 assassination of Prime Minister Jovenal Moïse.
A security vacuum has since emerged and Barbecue has eagerly exploited this, taking over territory and expanding its coalition with other gangs to wage further war.
The G9 has also been responsible for repeatedly cutting off Haiti’s much-needed fuel supply by taking over its main pipeline oil terminal hostage.
In a brutal show of force, Barbecue has paralyzed the country several times by preventing the distribution of food, water and essential medicines, plunging the country into a deeper humanitarian crisis.
A record of crime both on and off duty
Barbecue’s criminal career dates back to his time as a police officer. InSight Crime reports.
He took part in an anti-gang operation in 2017, which led to the extrajudicial killing of nine civilians.
In 2018, he led a group of seven gangs in a massacre in La Saline, Haiti’s worst massacre in more than a decade.
Barbecue was subsequently fired by the police and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In 2019, he took part in a four-day attack in Port-au-Prince’s Bel-Air neighborhood that killed at least 24 people.
Receive a barbecue moneyweapons, police uniforms and government vehicles of high-ranking officials in Moïse’s government.
The attacks were the precursors to the formation of the G9, which expanded its territorial control and provided politicians with a way to root out the opposition.
In July 2021, Barbecue and the G9 faced a turning point when Moïse was assassinated, causing a 30% drop in government funding.
Barbecue led to multiple blockades of Haiti’s largest oil terminal, Terminal Varreux, to restrict access to fuel and destabilize the government.
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