Crime in Honduras

High murder rates have long plagued Honduras, which has been routinely classified as one of the most dangerous countries in the region. Latin America as a whole is home to 8 percent of the world's population, yet it accounts for almost 37% of the world’s homicides. When it comes to the world’s most violent urban areas, Central America consistently places numerous cities in the top ten.[3] The domestic homicide rate hit its highest point in 2012, which recorded 7172 homicides, marking the highest murder rate in any country during peacetime.[2][4] There was a 6.2% increase in homicides compared to the previous year, and 83.4% of these homicides were committed with firearms.[2] Honduras had a homicide rate eighteen times higher than the United States at this point in time. Many perpetrators of these crimes are young men between 15 and 34 years who are typically members of gangs like the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) or Barrio 18.[5]

Though the homicide rate fell from prior highs to a rate of 36 per 100,000 in 2022, this still puts Honduras among the world’s most violent countries.[6][7] The decrease in murder rate has been attributed to multiple different factors, including agreements between criminal groups and the Honduran government; economic aid from the United States Agency for International Development, which funds crime-prevention programs; and the Mano Dura Laws, which were part of a no-tolerance crackdown on crime.[8] More recently, Honduras imposed a state of emergency in December 2022 that enacted a police crackdown on gangs throughout major cities, following the success of a similar program in its neighboring country El Salvador.[6]

The majority of murders in Honduras often go unpunished, and if prosecutions occur at all, they typically involve only low-level gang members. In recent years, only 4% of homicides have ended in a conviction.[8] While this can be partially attributed to systemic corruption within Honduran police and military forces, it is also the product of extensive extortion efforts by organized crime bodies targeting the general population. Anonymous surveys conducted in 2022 suggested that extortionists had targeted over 200,000 Honduran households, a tactic used to threaten witnesses against cooperation with police. As a result, an estimated 99% of crimes go unreported. President Xiomara Castro has recognized the impact of gang extortion on hindering prosecutions, and has made it a centerpiece of her crackdown on organized crime.[6] The fear and insecurity created by violence has also been an obstacle for organizations focused on crime prevention because there is barely any active or social participation to support these organizations.[2]

In addition to its very high overall murder rate, Honduras struggles as well with specifically targeted attacks against youths, women, and public figures—including politicians, journalists, activists, and judiciary workers. In 2021, the United Nations declared that violence against women was “the other pandemic” in Honduras, which has a femicide rate of 6.62 per 100,000—the highest in Latin America.[9] The UN noted that 278 Honduran women were killed in 2020, and the National Autonomous University of Honduras along with the National Observatory of Violence reported that a woman was murdered every 27 hours in 2021.[9]

In December 2009 the head of Honduras' anti-drug smuggling operations, Gen Julian Aristides Gonzalez, was assassinated in Tegucigalpa. In 2010, a similar assassination attempt was made on Óscar Álvarez, then the minister of security. The Honduran Department of National Directorate of Criminal Investigation concluded that Mexican drug trafficking organizations were behind both efforts. Journalist David Meza was assassinated in March 2010; he investigated drug trafficking within Honduras and, according to the El Tiempo newspaper, received death threats in 2010. Another reporter, Nahúm Elí Palacios Arteaga, was also assassinated in March 2010.

Honduran gangs and organized crime members, as well as some corrupt state agents continue to threaten journalists reporting on their actions, press freedom groups report. According to the Honduran College of Journalists, from 2001 to 2020, at least 86 journalists have been killed in the country. Ninety-two percent of these killings remain unpunished today.[10]

Another issue that Honduras confronts as a result of gang violence and a high homicide rate is the murder of youths. The Central American country has the highest youth homicide rate in the world, which further highlights Central America’s ongoing problem with exposing young boys to violence early in their lives. Children living in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador are ten times more likely to be murdered than a child living in the United States. As a result of organized crime, gang activity, and high rates of violence, boys born in Honduras experience a 1 in 9 chance of being murdered.[5] Homicides resulting from gang violence have been noted as a significant factor behind the rise in youth migration out of the country in the past few years.

Honduras is considered a major drug route to the US.[11] Smuggling is said to have increased after the US suspended anti-drug support following the 2009 Honduran coup d'état. Weak domestic law enforcement institutions make Honduras a popular point of entry for drug routes through Central America.[12][13]

In 1978 Policarpo Paz García overthrew Juan Alberto Melgar Castro in a "cocaine coup" financed by the Medellín Cartel-linked drug lord Juan Matta-Ballesteros.[14] The CIA took "a close and friendly interest" in the coup as Paz, unlike Melgar, was a keen supporter of Nicaragua's Anastasio Somoza Debayle.[14] Under Paz, the Honduran army and intelligence service received a cut of Matta-Ballesteros' profits in return for protection, as Honduras became a major shipment route for cocaine and marijuana from Colombia.[14] When the US Drug Enforcement Administration set up its first office in Tegucigalpa in 1981, its resident agent "rapidly came to the accurate conclusion that the entire Honduran government was deeply involved in the drug trade."[15]

The head of Honduran military intelligence, Leonides Torres Arias, formed a link between Matta-Ballesteros and the CIA, and in 1983 Matta-Ballesteros' airline SETCO (Services Ejectutivos Turistas Commander) received its first contract to ship arms from the United States to the Nicaraguan Contras, even as it was known that SETCO was smuggling cocaine into the US.[14] This would later develop into the Iran-Contra Affair.

In 1988 Matta-Ballesteros was taken from his home in Tegucigalpa by United States Marshals, sent to the United States for trial, and convicted of the kidnap and assassination of Enrique Camarena, as well as other charges. According to the "Selections from the Senate Committee Report on Drugs, Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy chaired by Senator John F. Kerry", “the Honduran airline SETCO "was the principal company used by the Contras in Honduras to transport supplies and personnel for the FDN carrying at least a million rounds of ammunition, food, uniforms and other military supplies for the Contras from 1983 through 1985. SETCO received funds for Contra supply operations from the Contra accounts established by Oliver North.”

Because of Honduras’ weak infrastructure, multiple transnational organizations across Latin America focus their operations in Honduras; over 79% of all cocaine routes originating in South America use Honduras as a central landing point.[16] Once in the nation, major Honduran smuggling clans, the Valle and Cochiros, assist the transfer of drugs into Mexico and/or the United States. Many of these clans are assisted by Mexican cartels, who have gained increasing influence in Honduras and Central America following the Mexican drug war, which attempted to limit cartel activity in Mexico.[17]  The smuggling of illegal drugs often leads to violence and homicide, specifically in areas that are hotly contested by drug smugglers. The department of Atlántida is considered a major site of contestation, and accordingly, 1 out of every 1,000 citizens in the department are killed due to violent crime.[17] This trend continues across Honduras, where major drug smuggling sites are frequently associated with high levels of violence.

A prominent factor behind the prevalence of drug trade in Honduras is corruption throughout the country across a variety of police forces and political positions. The extent of corruption within the police force has been highlighted by a former security chief who estimated that half the force has been corrupted by Mexican drug cartels.[18] In addition, corrupt politicians allow the drug trade to thrive in Honduras by taking bribes from gangs and cartels, ensuring a favorable outcome for these groups. Recent Honduran efforts to uproot corruption have revealed corrupt members within the legislature, the judiciary branches, state law enforcement branches, and local state governments, all of whom were accused of collaborating with drug traffickers.[17]

The judicial branch of Honduras’ government as well as the police force are both riddled with corruption, rendering them largely ineffective. In June 2020, a new criminal code came into effect. “This code essentially reduces penalties for politicians who get linked to organized crime by lowering all sentences for corruption related offenses. This code also includes alternative punishments to detention for lower level crimes, including partial prison sentences and conditional releases. Overall, impunity for human rights abuses, violent crime, and corruption remain the norm in Honduras’ judicial system, even as the prison population has mushroomed.”[19]

For more see: Juan Orlando Hernández

However, the most prominent recent example of high-level corruption was former president Juan Orlando Hernández (2014-2022), who was arrested by U.S. officials in 2022. This occurred after his brother and former Honduran congressman, Tony Hernández, was arrested in November of  2018 in Miami. The U.S. government tried Tony Hernández for aiding drug traffickers, most prominently Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.[20] The U.S. Department of Justice accused Hernández of “[bribing] law enforcement officials to protect drug shipments, [arranging] for heavily armed security for cocaine shipments, and [brokering] large bribes from major drug traffickers to powerful political figures.” Tony Hernández was found guilty of these charges and sentenced to life in prison.[21]

Notably, according to witnesses during the trial, one of these powerful political figures assisted by Tony Hernández was his brother, then the president of Honduras. While Juan Orlando Hernández denied the accusations at the time, even gaining re-election in 2017, he was eventually prosecuted following Xiomara Castro’s election in 2021.[22] He was accused of similarly aiding cartels, alongside his brother, in return for bribes consisting of millions of dollars, which were allegedly used to finance his campaigns and further his own wealth. He was extradited to the United States in April of 2022, following Honduran court order in March of 2022 and is currently awaiting trial.[23]

In 2022, a controversial reform to Honduras’ law against money laundering drew criticism from various parties. The reform effectively grants immunity to criminals by prohibiting the charging of money laundering solely based on unexplained wealth. Critics argue that the reform was approved as part of a larger strategy to restrict and shield against future investigations. The move has sparked concern about the potential for increased money laundering activity and impunity for those involved.[24]

The revised law has resulted in the release of multiple individuals charged with laundering money for drug cartels. Additionally, several public officials have benefited from the reform, as their charges were dropped. This has raised questions about the motivations behind the reform, with critics alleging that it serves to provide immunity for those involved in illicit activities. The government's proposal to grant amnesty to officials who served under former President Manuel Zelaya has faced criticism, highlighting concerns about political immunity in the country.[24]

In 2003, the Honduran government introduced the Mano Dura laws as part of a zero-tolerance policy aimed at reducing violence and strengthening public security. These laws heavily empowered police and imposed harsher penalties for many offenses, including permitting gang members to be incarcerated simply for gang association in the absence of any specific criminal act.[37]

Honduran police officers were authorized to arrest anyone at all related to gangs through indicators such as tattoos, baggy clothing, or even typical gang positions on street corners. To avoid being detected by police officers, members of gangs have been forced to change their territorial strategies. Since tattoos are such an easy way to identify a gang member, gangs have been forced to wear clothes covering their tattoos and to adopt a more casual appearance.[37]  

Although these laws were introduced with the intention of reducing gang violence, there is little evidence to suggest that they have been effective. Aside from an initial reduction in crime, the laws have not managed to significantly address the problem. In fact, the Mano Dura laws have had some unintended consequences, resulting in many gang members attempting to seek protection with branches of their gang in other countries such as El Salvador.[37] Transnational gang relations have grown tremendously since the implementation of these laws, as evidenced by Mara Salvatrucha's extensive reach, spanning through the United States and even reaching cities in Canada.[38] The laws have also led some gangs to voice their opposition with further acts of violence. One year after the introduction of the Mano Dura, members of MS-13 attacked a bus, killing 28 people and wounding 14.[39] The perpetrators left a note claiming opposition to the death penalty, a major campaign issue in the upcoming presidential election and a large component of Mano Dura. They also threatened further violence, warning that "people should take advantage of this Christmas, because the next one will be worse."[39] Consequences like this suggest that zero-tolerance policies have promoted further extremism in a country already shrouded by gang violence.

Another reason the Mano Dura policies have struggled to accomplish their goals is that the prison system in Honduras is not built to accommodate the increased volume of incarcerated individuals. Prison overcrowding has made it easier for gangs to function as there are not enough guards in many prisons to safely monitor the prisoners. According to the Center for Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and their Relatives (CPTRT), there were 1,272 prison guards to attend to 10,300 inmates as of 2004, giving each guard the nearly impossible task of tending to 8 inmates.[37] To maintain a basic level of security, the guards and inmates have agreed upon a prison order which allows prisoners a surprising amount of freedom but at the very least keeps them inside the confines of the prison. With more freedom inside the prisons, gang leaders can control the sale of food, commodities, and even the reception of visitors. In addition, given the relative security of their position in prison, they can safely organize and plan their criminal strategies. Another concern raised about these laws is their potential to be arbitrarily manipulated by law enforcement officials. Since people can be arrested for simple tattoos or hand gestures, police have to be trusted to correctly and fairly prosecute gang members. This process has clogged the judicial system to the point that the defendants are not always afforded fair trials.[40]

Jaime Rosenthal's family owned Banco Continental, then the eighth largest bank in Honduras, which on October 7, 2015, had its assets frozen by the United States under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act on charges that they laundered money for drug traffickers. Rosenthal has rebutted these charges, claiming, "we are sure that we will prevail in the trial because the accusations are false."[41] The Rosenthals have an extensive fortune worth $690 million which they have amassed through their management of Grupo Continental, a massive conglomerate of businesses which includes the Banco Continental, a meat packing plant, and an alligator skin export company, among others.[42] Specifically, the Rosenthal family has been accused by the United States for dealing with Cachiros, one of the largest drug transport clans in Central America. The Cachiros group was run by the Rivera Maradiaga family who went on the run after being specifically targeted by the United States Department of the Treasury[43] and in early 2015, turned their top members in to US authorities.[44] Jaime Rosenthal, who was 79 years old at the time, was placed under house arrest in San Pedro Sula while awaiting trial in the US.[45] Rosenthal died of a heart attack in 2019 in San Pedro Sula.[46]

Honduran President Xiomara Castro declared a state of emergency on December 6, 2022, in order to target gangs and other criminal organizations. This followed a similar strategy implemented earlier in the year by El Salvador that led to tens of thousands of arrests. The declaration temporarily suspended some rights and significantly bolstered police power, including by permitting authorities to restrict the movement and assembly of citizens, detain suspects more easily, and to conduct searches without a warrant. The state of emergency initially covered only the two largest cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, but President Castro expanded the declaration in January 2023 to include a total of 123 cities and towns across the country. National Police Director Gustavo Sanchez supported the expansion, commenting that “the suspension of rights was extended to municipalities where, according to our analysis, criminal groups have migrated to evade the actions of police and the state.”[47]

The first month of the emergency measures yielded arrests of 650 suspected gang members, and there have been 356 fewer murders recorded during the first two months of the emergency measures than the same time one year earlier.[47]