# Haitian Tycoon Gilbert Bigio, Sanctioned by Canada for Alleged Gang Ties, Dies at 91

> Gilbert Bigio, founder of Haiti's sprawling GB Group, died in Florida on September 29, 2026, nearly four years after Canada sanctioned him for alleged ties to criminal gangs.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-19T15:36:46.001925Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/haitian-tycoon-gilbert-bigio-sanctioned-by-canada-for-alleged-gang-ties-dies-at-91-4e68fe37

Gilbert Bigio, a prominent Haitian businessman and founder of the extensive GB Group conglomerate, died on September 29, 2026, at the age of 91 in Florida [1][4][23]. His death occurred nearly four years after the Canadian government imposed sanctions on him, citing alleged connections to criminal gangs in Haiti [1][5][6].

Bigio's passing closes a chapter on one of Haiti's most influential economic figures, leaving behind a vast business empire now operating under the shadow of international sanctions. The Canadian measures, which include broad 'deemed ownership' provisions, mean that the future of his conglomerate and its numerous interests could face ongoing scrutiny and restrictions, potentially affecting operations far beyond Canada's borders [12][13][18].

## What the records show

Gilbert Bigio established GB Group in 1972, launching with Aciérie d'Haïti, a steelworks company [2][3][22]. By the 1980s, this steel operation controlled most commercial steel in Haiti [2][22]. The conglomerate expanded significantly over decades, diversifying into various sectors such as construction materials, consumer goods, edible oils through Huileries Haïtiennes, energy and fuel, including GB Energy and former Texaco operations in the Dominican Republic, telecommunications, real estate, banking, logistics, and infrastructure projects like Port Lafito [2][3][22][23].

In December 2022, the Canadian government imposed sanctions on Bigio, along with two other Haitian elites, Reynold Deeb and Sherif Abdallah [6][7]. These sanctions were enacted under Canada's Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (JVCFOA) [8][9][10]. The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs accused Bigio and the others of using their positions to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs in Haiti, including through money laundering and other acts of corruption [5]. The sanctions included a dealings prohibition, freezing Bigio's assets in Canada and prohibiting transactions with him by Canadians and persons in Canada [11][17].

Canadian sanctions legislation also includes

## Evidence cited
1. Gilbert Bigio, Haitian Tycoon Linked to Gangs, Dies at 91 (www.nytimes.com) — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/world/americas/gilbert-bigio-dead.html
2. Gilbert Bigio - Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Bigio
3. Haitian Businessman Gilbert Bigio Dies At 91 Years Old - Nago.tv (Nago.tv) — https://nago.tv/en/2026/09/30/haitian-businessman-gilbert-bigio-dies-at-91-years-old/
4. Haitian businessman Gilbert Bigio dies at 91 - DominicanToday (DominicanToday) — https://dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2026/09/30/haitian-businessman-gilbert-bigio-dies-at-91/
5. Canada imposes additional sanctions on Haitian elites - Global Affairs Canada (Government of Canada) — https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/12/canada-imposes-additional-sanctions-on-haitian-elites.html
6. Canada imposes sanctions on Haitian elites accused of supporting criminal gangs | CBC News (CBC News) — https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-sanctions-haitian-elites-1.6675005
7. Canada Sanctions Haitian Businessmen Linked To Dominican Republic; Gilbert Bigio, Reynold Deeb and Sherif Abdallah Faces Allegations of Supporting Haiti Gangs | Latin Post (Latin Times) — https://www.latintimes.com/canada-sanctions-haitian-businessmen-linked-dominican-republic-505680
8. Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) (Government of Canada) — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-8.5/page-1.html
9. Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) - Global Affairs Canada (Government of Canada) — https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/sanctions/sema-mesures_pec-ls.aspx?lang=eng
10. Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) (Government of Canada) — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/J-2.3/index.html
11. Dealings Prohibition - Global Affairs Canada (Government of Canada) — https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/sanctions/dealings_ban-interdiction_transactions.aspx?lang=eng
12. Canada Sanctions Guide | Eversheds Sutherland (Eversheds Sutherland) — https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Canada-Sanctions-Guide
13. Canadian Sanctions Alert: Your Counterparty May Be Subject to Sanctions Even If It Is Not Designated (Cassels) — https://cassels.com/insights/canadian-sanctions-alert-your-counterparty-may-be-subject-to-sanctions-even-if-it-is-not-designated/
14. Canada Sanctions Guide | Eversheds Sutherland (Eversheds Sutherland) — https://eversheds-sutherland.com/global/en/what/articles/index.page?ArticleID=en/Canada-Sanctions-Guide
15. complyadvantage.com — https://complyadvantage.com/
16. tradeisds.com — https://tradeisds.com/
17. Dealings Prohibition - Global Affairs Canada (Government of Canada) — https://international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/sanctions/dealings_ban-interdiction_transactions.aspx?lang=eng
18. Canadian sanctions - Deemed Ownership - Global Affairs Canada (Government of Canada) — https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/sanctions/deemed_ownership-presomption_propriete.aspx?lang=eng
19. Significant Amendments to Canada's Unilateral Sanctions Legislation - Baker McKenzie (Baker McKenzie) — https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/2023/06/significant-amendments-to-canadas-unilateral-sanctions-legislation
20. New Guidance on Canadian Economic Sanctions (Canadian Bar Association) — https://www.cba.org/sections/national/international-law/news/2024/new-guidance-on-canadian-economic-sanctions
21. The Monkey's Paw — Global Affairs Canada releases new economic sanctions FAQs (McCarthy Tétrault) — https://mccarthy.ca/en/insights/blogs/sanctions-and-trade-law/the-monkeys-paw-global-affairs-canada-releases-new-economic-sanctions-faqs
22. instagram.com — https://instagram.com/
23. facebook.com — https://facebook.com/
24. The Fall of Haiti's Oligarchs: Part 1 - Gilbert Bigio. | by J.C. Hervé | Jun, 2025 | Medium (Medium) — https://medium.com/@j.c.herve_61048/the-fall-of-haitis-oligarchs-part-1-gilbert-bigio-5463f6a27e79