Haiti: Notorious Gang With A History Of Brazen Kidnappings Blamed For Abducting 17 Missionaries

Salam Batha, Staff Reporter, The Pawprint

The 400 Mawazo gangs are claimed to have abducted the religious group, which included children, on their way home from an orphanage in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Saturday.

400 Mowozo, which roughly translates as 400 inexperienced guys, dominates areas of Haiti and is known to authorities as persons who commit kidnappings, carjackings, and extortion.

Following the assassination of President Jovenel Mossé at his house in July, Haiti has experienced an increase in the frequency of gang-related kidnappings.