Haiti's Dark Trade: Gangs Cash in on Baby Eel Smuggling

The Unseen Crisis: How Baby Eels Fuel Haiti's Gang Crisis

In the rivers of Haiti, a tiny, translucent creature is sparking a multi-million dollar criminal enterprise. Known locally as "Zangi," these baby glass eels are being harvested and smuggled to Asia, where they become a luxury delicacy. This lucrative trade is lining the pockets of criminal gangs terrorizing Haiti, while pushing an endangered species closer to extinction and exploiting impoverished fishermen.

The Journey of the Baby Eel

Each year, glass eels drift from the Sargasso Sea to the coasts of Hispaniola—the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. These eels, indistinguishable from their endangered European counterparts, infiltrate Haiti's rivers and estuaries. Despite being classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, their trade remains unregulated under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), unlike European eels. This loophole has turned Haiti into a key exporter of American eels.

A Lucrative, Yet Lethal, Supply Chain

The demand for these eels comes overwhelmingly from Asia, particularly Japan, where they are fattened on farms and sold as a prized delicacy. The value is staggering: one gram of exported Haitian eels—containing just seven to ten specimens—fetches between $3.60 and $4.50 internationally. Yet the fishermen who risk their lives to catch them earn a mere 50 cents to $1.50 per kilogram.

Gangs, Corruption, and Money Laundering

The industry is described by experts as "like the Mafia," with gangs controlling the trade from the rivers to the ports. UN officials warn that powerful political and economic figures in Haiti use the eel trade to launder drug profits. The unregulated sector allows criminals to extort fishermen and couriers, often contraband shipments to disguise illicit funds. "It's every man for himself," one fisherman told UN investigators, revealing the brutal competition and exploitation.

"The opaque and unregulated sector has created an ideal environment for criminals to launder money." — UN Sanctions Report

Human Cost and Environmental Devastation

Fishermen work 12-hour nights, barefoot in river mouths, using makeshift mosquito nets to catch the eels. Many suffer infections and injuries, with hundreds hospitalized annually. The trade also threatens the ecosystem: commercial farms cannot breed eels in captivity, making wild populations critical. Haiti's government has reduced harvests but lacks reliable data, while the EU and Panama push for a global CITES ban on all eel trade to prevent smuggling.

Call for Sustainable Solutions

Environmental activists urge an end to eel fishing, urging instead that fishing communities be equipped to catch sustainable alternatives. The trade exemplifies how environmental exploitation and organized crime intertwine, preying on both people and nature. Without international intervention and support for local communities, the cycle of violence and depletion will continue.

What's Next?

As CITES meets to consider a global eel trade ban, the future hangs in the balance. While such a move could penalize vulnerable Haitian fishermen, experts argue it's a necessary step to save the species. The crisis demands not just regulation, but a shift toward ethical alternatives that protect both Haiti's people and its natural resources.