The Haitian National Police have arrested Vundla Sikhumbuzo, a Zimbabwean national long wanted by authorities, during a targeted operation in Pétion-Ville on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Sikhumbuzo faces multiple serious charges, including illegal trafficking of firearms and ammunition linked to the high-profile Episcopal Church arms case, attempted murder of his ex-wife, criminal association, and the sequestration (unlawful confinement) of his three children.
The breakthrough came after Sikhumbuzo’s 15-year-old daughter escaped the family residence in the Montagne Noire area on March 23. She was trying to reach her mother when a security guard found her in the Morne Brun area and turned her over to police. Her information led investigators to locate Sikhumbuzo in the “Tèt Dlo” section of Pétion-Ville.
During the raid carried out by specialized units of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ), authorities recovered all three children, now approximately 18, 15, and 14 years old who had reportedly been held in near-total isolation since 2019.
Police sources described the children as appearing “zombified”: severely traumatized, socially withdrawn, fearful of outsiders, and showing clear signs of long-term psychological distress. According to reports, they had received no formal education for seven years, were denied access to sunlight or even the home’s balcony, and had virtually no contact with the outside world. The children have been placed under the protection of authorities, with ongoing efforts to reunite them with their mother, who resides in the United States.
The case against Sikhumbuzo also stems from a 2018 acid attack on his then-wife, a Chadian national. Reports indicate she was tied up, tortured, and sprayed with acid in her bedroom with the alleged complicity of her driver. She was hospitalized for 14 days and later received additional treatment in the United States.
Sikhumbuzo had previously worked as Director of Operations for the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti starting in 2011. In that role, he managed post-2010 earthquake relief and recovery programs. The arms trafficking scandal surfaced publicly in 2022 when containers containing approximately 20 firearms, war ammunition, and counterfeit U.S. dollars were intercepted at a Haitian port. The shipment had reportedly arrived under the church’s customs exemption. Church officials have consistently denied any involvement or knowledge of the illicit cargo.
Sikhumbuzo had been actively wanted by Haitian authorities since 2019.
Following his arrest, Sikhumbuzo was transferred to judicial authorities, where he is expected to face formal charges. The rescue of the three children has drawn attention to the severe psychological impact of their prolonged isolation.
This case highlights ongoing challenges in Haiti related to arms trafficking, domestic violence, and child protection amid broader security concerns.
The Haitian National Police have not yet released additional details on the investigation, but the operation is being viewed as a significant success for the DCPJ’s specialized units, including the Brigade for Research and Intervention (BRI) and the Brigade for the Protection of Minors.
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