Honduras drug seizures is higher

Honduras is seizing more A-class drugs than in previous years but the country’s president is still under suspicion of being involved in the trade.

Even as he faces allegations of corruption and drug trafficking himself, President Juan Orlando Hernandéz said he will take measures to thwart organised criminal groups after state security forces announced that cocaine seizures have already surpassed last year’s record.

Despite nationwide restrictions on movement introduced to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Secretariat of National Defence said last week that authorities had incinerated more than 2,628 kilograms of coke, mostly in the northern region of La Mosquitia.

The figures, which represent the eight months since January, already reflect an increase of almost 400 kg on last year.

On Sunday, Hernandéz took to Twitter to promise further action against the organised criminal groups responsible for trafficking the drug through the Central American country.

“It doesn’t matter the time or the place, our defence and security forces are always there to protect the Honduran people,” he said.

Hernandéz has himself been described as a co-conspirator in legal proceedings against his brother in the US on charges of drug trafficking. While Hernandéz has consistently denied the allegations, his brother was convicted and sentenced last year.

But a surge in production of cocaine in Venezuela and Colombia has seen Honduras resume its former mantle as a key transit destination for the drug.

Meanwhile, serious international concerns have been raised about the sincerity of the regime’s commitment to combat corruption among public officials that allows organised criminals to act with impunity, after Hernandéz dismissed corruption charges against his government allies a month ago.