Smuggling Shock in PortMiami (33132) : Man Arrested in Miami for Attempting to Ship Guns and Ammo to Haiti – FEDERAL RAID CONFIRMED

PortMiami (33132) – Federal agents have arrested a South Florida man accused of illegally attempting to ship a large cache of firearms and ammunition from Miami to Haiti, officials confirmed Tuesday. The bust, carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is being described as a significant blow to an ongoing illicit pipeline supplying weapons to Haitian gangs amid that nation’s escalating crisis.

The suspect, 42-year-old Jean Remy Baptiste, was taken into custody after investigators uncovered a shipping container filled with disassembled firearms, high-capacity magazines, and thousands of rounds of ammunition labeled as “household goods.” According to the criminal complaint, the shipment was intercepted at PortMiami and had false customs declarations—a red flag that triggered a more in-depth search.

Key Facts

• BREAKING: Feds intercepted container of guns bound for Haiti at PortMiami

• IMPACT: 1 man arrested; shipment included rifles, ammo, and false paperwork

• OFFICIAL SOURCE: “A clear violation of federal and international law” – HSI Miami

• ACTION: Report suspicious shipping activity to 1-866-DHS-2-ICE

Authorities say the intended destination was Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a country currently gripped by violent gang control and a collapsed central government. U.S. officials have been actively cracking down on smuggling operations from Florida to the Caribbean, where trafficked American firearms have been fueling conflict and humanitarian instability.

“This arrest sends a message: The U.S. will not tolerate the illegal export of firearms to volatile regions,” said Special Agent Anthony Salisbury, head of HSI Miami. Baptiste faces multiple federal charges, including illegal exportation of firearms and conspiracy to traffic weapons internationally.

The arrest is part of a larger federal crackdown and comes just weeks after the Biden administration pledged additional efforts to halt arms trafficking to Haiti, which the United Nations has identified as a major driver of regional instability.

Hyperlocal Impact

1. Precise Location:
   PortMiami (33132) – Cargo inspection dock near Dodge Island Bridge

2. Community Connection:
   “It’s disturbing, but sadly not surprising. There’s too much going out unnoticed.”
   (Attribution: – Luis Peña, operations manager at Bayside Freight Services)

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

Haiti is experiencing one of its most volatile periods in recent history, with criminal syndicates openly battling for control over cities and ports. U.S.-sourced weapons, often trafficked through Florida, have worsened the violence. Just last month, the UN Security Council called on member nations to curb arms flow to Haiti. This bust marks a strategic enforcement moment, as U.S. agencies scramble to prevent Miami from becoming a launchpad for regional destabilization.

Update Log

• 9:00 AM: Shipping container flagged during CBP inspection

• 10:15 AM: Agents uncover firearms, ammo concealed as personal effects

• 12:00 PM: Jean Remy Baptiste arrested at warehouse in Allapattah

• 2:30 PM: Federal charges filed; first court appearance set for Thursday