Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
A recent report by the United States Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy (INCSR) referred to the measures Honduras has taken against drug trafficking.
“Honduras does not promote or facilitate the production or distribution of illicit drugs or participate in the laundering of proceeds from illicit drug sales, but corruption is still widespread in the public sphere of institutions,” the report said.
The report states that between January and August, Honduran authorities seized 642,680 kg of calcium oxide and 20,716 kg of potassium carbonate in Puerto Cortés, allegedly diverted for illegal production.
It also points out that during the first nine months of 2020 cocaine seizures higher than 2019, But the new ships purchased by the Honduran Navy are not active in anti-drug operations due to lack of fuel (which also limits proactive boarding) and an inadequate maintenance budget.
The INCSR also indicates that small-scale coca cultivation has been around for at least the past decade in Honduras.
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The State Department report highlights that among the measures taken by the Honduran authorities to combat drug trafficking, it is worth noting that the police, military and other government officials involved in drug trafficking and related crimes are under judicial review.
The United States pledges to the Honduran authorities in their first report since President Joe Biden took office to deny drug smugglers the use of Honduran territory, increase seizures, facilitate renditions of traffickers, support prosecutions in Honduras and strengthen security presence in Honduras. Affected areas.
Cooperation
It also mentions that to combat money laundering in the last quarter of 2019, Honduras, coordinated by the National Banking and Insurance Commission (CNBS) and, with the support of donors, developed a money laundering and counter-weapons of mass destruction strategy to implement related laws and regulations.
The Honduran Aviation Sovereignty Act is a possible first step towards strengthening cooperation between the United States and Honduras in the fight against drug trafficking, as the Honduran government is unable to control all flights. suspected of tracking drug trafficking without outside support.
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Likewise, the security fee, instituted in 2014 to deal with funding problems, has helped security agencies; however, more money is needed to keep fighting these groups.
The United States recalled that it was providing assistance to Honduras through the Central American Regional Security Initiative, but noted that it is working closely with the government of Honduras to establish a combined center for interinstitutional operations and thus the prohibition operations and the information coordinate exchanges between authorities. Honduran army, police, detectives and prosecutors.
There are still “loopholes” against drug trafficking
Finally, the United States has made a commitment to continue to contribute to the development of the capacity of Honduran institutions to fight drugs, corruption and other criminal matters. At the same time, he noted that the Honduran authorities have demonstrated that by 2020 they have demonstrated their ability to enforce bans, that there is insufficient fuel, gaps in command and control, that there is no trust between military institutions, that there is limited communication and law enforcement.
Julian Pacheco, Secretary of the Secretariat of Security, stated that “this is an X-ray of what has happened in Honduras over the past eight years in relation to drug trafficking in three main areas: combating criminal structures related to extradited persons, the interception of drugs. all are denominations, especially in Olancho and Colón, as well as the special unit that has worked with financial intelligence. ”
Pacheco Tinoco acknowledged that “there is still a lot to be done, but at least the route against the structures has already been found and that motivates us to continue working.”