Honduran authorities have unveiled a comprehensive strategy to combat organized crime, which includes the creation of a massive 20,000-capacity “megaprison,” as well as the designation of gang members as “terrorists” and the implementation of collective trials.
During a late-night national address, President Xiomara Castro emphasized that the “crime solution plan” was developed in response to a pressing “security emergency” and growing concerns over escalating violence.
Accompanied by members of Honduras’s National Defense and Security Council, Castro called for the urgent deployment of armed forces and police to target areas with high levels of gang-related crimes, such as contract killings, drug and weapon trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and money laundering.
The proposal to construct the “Emergency Reclusion Centre,” capable of housing 20,000 inmates, in a remote region between Olancha and Gracias a Dios departments will significantly increase the country’s prison capacity.
Additionally, authorities emphasized the need for the Honduran Congress to amend the penal code to classify drug traffickers and gang members involved in specific crimes as “terrorists,” subjecting them to collective trials.
Hector Gustavo Sanchez, the head of the national police force, disclosed plans to apprehend individuals identified as “intellectual authors, leaders, and members of criminal organizations” listed for immediate arrest.
Furthermore, operations will target the eradication of marijuana and coca leaf plantations, essential for cocaine production, as well as facilities engaged in illegal drug processing.
These new initiatives mirror actions taken in neighboring El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang efforts, though controversial, have bolstered his popularity in Latin America.
Honduras declared a state of emergency in December 2022, leading to the suspension of certain…
Article from www.aljazeera.com