Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a former police officer and leader of the Viv Ansam gang coalition in Haiti, now has a US$5 million bounty on him for information leading to his capture. The bounty by the FBI came after a federal judge indictment on August 12.
The nickname “Barbecue” derives from the gangster’s habit of burning his enemies alive to project a ruthless image of himself.“Barbecue,” who also appears on a global terrorist list compiled by the United Nations, is the leader of an alliance of gangs that controls 80% of Port-au-Prince, the Caribbean nation’s capital. According to a United Nations report, Viv Ansam is one of the main groups responsible for the capital’s uninterrupted violence, which has put it on the verge of collapse. The gang is responsible for at least 5,600 deaths in 2024 and already 3,000 in 2025.
But Haitian gangs are just one example of the many criminal organizations carrying out illicit activities around the world.
From the ruthless Sicilian Mafia, whose influence has been immortalized in countless films, to the elusive Yakuza with their deep-rooted traditions and modern enterprises, these organizations wield power that often challenges the very fabric of law and order. In this gallery, delve into the lives of the most feared and notorious gangs in the world, exploring the intricate web of their operations, the myths surrounding their legacies, and the stark realities of their impact on communities worldwide. Click through to unveil the world's most formidable gangs.