Haitian Gangs Profit from Lucrative Eel Trade, Exploiting Endangered Species

As of November 18th, 2025, a concerning trend has emerged in Haiti, where criminal gangs are profiting from the trade in baby eels caught in the country's rivers and estuaries. These worm-like creatures with dots for eyes, known locally as "Zangi," are in high demand largely from Asia, and the trade is fueling the activities of the gangs terrorizing Haiti.

The global trade of European eels has been strictly controlled since 2009, but the trade of American eels, which are found in Haiti, remains unregulated. This has allowed the illicit eel trade to thrive, with the baby eels being exported to supply farms in Asia where they are fattened up and sold as a delicacy.

Experts warn that the trade is filling the coffers of the criminal organizations in Haiti, and the situation has become so dire that the UN's drugs and crime office has stepped up monitoring of the industry, citing evidence of money laundering and involvement of powerful political and economic figures in the country. The government has attempted to curb the trade, but the lack of controls and regulation has created an ideal environment for the criminal networks to operate.

The eel trade has also taken a toll on the environment, with the species classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, primarily due to overfishing. Efforts are underway to further restrict the trade, but the lucrative nature of the industry and the involvement of organized crime have made it a challenging problem to address.