He isn't just a guy with a gun. Honestly, if you look at how Johnson André—better known as Izo Vilaj de Dye—operates, you’re looking at a weird, dark hybrid of a social media influencer, a CEO, and a warlord.
Most people see the headlines about Haiti and think of "gangs" as disorganized groups of thugs. That’s a mistake. Izo, the 28-year-old leader of the 5 Segond (5 Seconds) gang, has turned a seaside slum in Port-au-Prince into a high-tech fortress. From using commercial drones for "air supremacy" to running a literal music studio that pulls millions of views, he’s redefined what criminal influence looks like in 2026.
The Man Behind the Alias: Who is Johnson André?
Born in 1997, Izo didn’t just stumble into power. He grew up in the Village de Dieu (Village of God), a densely packed neighborhood that sits right on the edge of the capital’s main port.
It’s a strategic goldmine.
By controlling this specific patch of land, Izo controls the flow of goods coming in from the sea. You’ve got a guy who was barely twenty when he started climbing the ranks, and now he’s on a first-name basis with UN sanction lists. He’s young. He’s tech-literate. And he’s incredibly dangerous because he understands that in the modern world, perception is just as important as firepower.
The Weird World of Gangster Rap and Digital Warfare
You might find it surreal, but Izo is a legitimate "artist" in the eyes of the digital algorithms. For a long time, he had a YouTube channel with over 100,000 subscribers. He even received a YouTube Silver Creator Award before the platform finally nuked his account for violating terms of service.
He uses music videos to recruit.
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These aren't low-quality clips recorded on a phone, either. We’re talking professional-grade production, featuring heavy weaponry, tactical gear, and stacks of cash. It’s a marketing funnel. For a young man in Port-au-Prince with no job and no future, Izo’s life looks like a path to success. He basically sells the "bad boy" lifestyle to hide the reality of what 5 Segond actually does: kidnapping, extortion, and maritime piracy.
The Drone Factor
While the Haitian National Police (PNH) struggle with aging equipment, Izo’s gang is living in the future. Satellite imagery and intelligence reports from late 2025 show that 5 Segond uses advanced commercial drones to monitor police movements.
They have air surveillance.
When the police try to enter Village de Dieu, the gang sees them coming blocks away. They’ve even renovated their headquarters—a compound with a blue roof—to include solar panels and CCTV. While the rest of the city suffers from frequent blackouts, Izo’s command center stays powered up. It’s a level of infrastructure that most small businesses would envy, which is terrifying when you realize it's being used to coordinate hostage-taking.
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Why 5 Segond is Different from Other Gangs
In the messy landscape of Haitian politics, most gangs belong to one of two major coalitions: the G9 (led by Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier) or the G-Pep.
Izo plays both sides or his own side, depending on the day.
Originally part of the G-Pep alliance, he has shown a ruthless streak of independence. He doesn't just want to control a neighborhood; he wants to control the economy. His gang has been known to hijack freight trucks on National Roads 1 and 2, effectively putting a "tax" on every piece of food or gallon of fuel moving through the south of the country.
The Reality of Life Under the "Village of God"
Don't let the music videos fool you. The "humanitarian" image Izo tries to project on social media—occasionally handing out food or cash—is a thin veil for extreme brutality.
The US Department of Justice recently unsealed charges against him for the 2023 kidnapping of a US citizen. The details are grim. The victim was held for nine days, beaten, and burned with hot plastic. This isn't "community leadership." It's a business model built on human suffering.
The UN has documented cases where 5 Segond used sexual violence as a tool of territorial control. They aren't just fighting other gangs; they are dismantling the social fabric of the city. As of early 2026, Izo is believed to still be hiding in plain sight within the labyrinthine alleys of Village de Dieu, protected by a human shield of civilians who are often too terrified to speak out.
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What Happens Next?
The world is finally starting to pay attention, but it might be too late for a simple fix. The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, led by Kenya and now transitioning into a UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, is facing a literal fortress.
You can't just drive a tank into Village de Dieu. The alleys are too narrow, the drones are always watching, and the gang is armed with snipers and automatic weapons that often outclass the state's arsenal.
Actionable Insights and Realities
If you are following the situation in Haiti, here is what you need to understand about the current state of Izo and the 5 Segond gang:
- Technology is the new frontier: The use of drones and social media for psychological warfare means traditional policing doesn't work. The international community is now looking into counter-drone tech specifically to disable Izo's "eye in the sky."
- The Maritime Route: Unlike other gangs that are land-locked, Izo has a fleet of boats. He uses the sea to move drugs and weapons between Port-au-Prince and the northern coast. Any real solution to his power has to involve a naval blockade, not just street patrols.
- Sanctions are a "paper tiger": While the UN and US have frozen his assets, Izo operates in a cash and crypto-heavy environment. Sanctions look good on a press release, but they haven't stopped him from buying new tactical gear or renovating his compound.
The situation remains fluid. With elections tentatively planned for late 2026, Izo and his peers in the Viv Ansanm alliance are trying to leverage their violence into political amnesty. They want a seat at the table.
For the people living in the shadow of Village de Dieu, the "Village of God" remains anything but holy. It's a reminder of what happens when a digital-age criminal meets a vacuum of state power. To stay informed, monitor the official reports from the UN Security Council and the Haitian National Police, as the tactical landscape in Port-au-Prince changes almost weekly. Following local journalists on the ground is also a good way to see through the propaganda of Izo's social media machine.