Tracking the Gang Baz 5Segond Using Satellite Imagery and Social Media
Our team acquired satellite imagery of Village de Dieu, the strong hold of the gang Baz 5 Segond, led by Johnson André aka “Izo 5Segond”. We further cross-referenced our satellite images with social media activity from gang members, offering a groundbreaking perspective on their operations in Port-au-Prince. This dual approach highlights the gang's locations and technological capabilities, underscoring the importance of targeted analysis in tackling Haiti's security challenges. Our findings pave the way for strategic operations to disrupt gang influence and enhance community safety.
Location: Village De Dieu & Critical Infrastructure
Location: The Compound
This compound is the home and main gathering location for Izo and his lieutenants. During our intelligence gathering, we noticed that very few gang members have access to this compound. It is heavily guarded with armed security and CCTV inside and outside.
Recently, the compound was renovated to install outdoor tiles, replacing a previous green turf. Solar panels were also installed on the blue roof to ensure reliable electricity.
Images of gang leader Izo 5 Segond’s compound using our satellite images and cross referenced with social media accounts.
Territory Surveillance
The gang has the capability to dispatch drones anytime for surveillance and potentially anticipate police operations.
The Technology: Drones - Air Supremacy
As seen in battlefields like Ukraine and the Middle East, drones provide vast advantage to whoever is using them. In Haiti, Izo’s gang uses easily accessible drones to conduct surveillance on the police and coordinate attacks.
The Baz 5Segond gang uses drones during operations such as the March 2 prison break and to conduct surveillance on the police. March 2, 2024.
Drone footage of gang member communicating the locations of two armored police trucks to other gang members.
The video below includes 2023 gang surveillance footage of a police station in Portail Leogane . According to our satellite images, the station was deserted on March 9, 2024.
Communication: Walkie Talkies
During our investigation, we found that multiple gang members carried short wave radios for communication.
Armory & Transport:
On March 16, 2024, Baz 5Segond released the video below to showcase their newly acquired tactical equipment.
Using our satellite images and social media, we are able to confirm the presence of the three vehicles as of March 9, 2024.
Recommendations:
Our goal in embarking in this analysis was to highlight the need to dedicate resources to conduct in-depth intelligence gathering and provide solution-driven and actionable analysis. Based on security expert consultation here are holistic and actionable steps to deal with Baz 5 Segond and other gangs:
Create security bubbles in the city where civilians can seek refuge, receive medical attention, food and shelter.
Giving priority to areas with essential services, such as hospitals, schools, and markets, as well as regions that serve as access points for humanitarian aid.
Repurposing large government buildings to house internally displaced people.
Community Engagement
Engaging with local communities by providing resources and enable intelligence gathering on gang movements and build trust between law enforcement and the community.
Healing centers and gender-based initiatives to support women and girls.
Technological Support
Survey the Haitian National Police to understand their needs.
Employing technology like affordable commercial drones to enhance monitoring and real-time intelligence capabilities.
Installing counter-drone technology to disable gang-piloted drones.
Establish barriers to channel the flow of traffic towards major police checkpoints.
Economic Opportunities
Creating economic opportunities within these bubbles to support local businesses and reduce the allure of the gangs.
While there may be other avenues to address the current crisis, we believe it is paramount to base the solutions on trusted data and accurate intelligence. It is also important to understand local context by listening to local stakeholders.
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