Authorities in Honduras announced on Tuesday the arrest of a suspect believed to be the architect behind the murders of 19 workers at a palm plantation that occurred last month.
The tragic incident unfolded in Rigores, located in Honduras’ turbulent Bajo Aguan region, an area plagued by conflicts between rival gangs vying for dominance over palm oil plantations and drug trafficking routes.
Carlos Molina, who is also referred to as “El Gato Negro” or the Black Cat, is accused of orchestrating the massacre and providing logistical support for the attack, as stated by Security Minister Gerzon Velasquez during a press briefing.
According to officials, at least six individuals executed the plan allegedly devised by the 27-year-old Molina; however, none of these accomplices have been captured thus far.
On the same day in mid-May, five police officers in Honduras lost their lives near the Guatemala border.
In response to escalating criminal violence, lawmakers in Honduras have recently enacted a set of reforms aimed at addressing the issue, with the country experiencing a homicide rate of 24 deaths per 100,000 residents. The new legislation permits military involvement in public security operations and establishes a dedicated anti-organized crime unit.
Additionally, the reforms introduce the possibility of classifying gangs and drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
The United States has been actively urging Latin American nations to intensify efforts against cartels and gangs. In May, the U.S. government designated two prominent Brazilian criminal organizations as terrorist groups. Countries like Mexico and Brazil, led by center-left administrations, have openly criticized these designations, while nations such as Ecuador and Honduras, governed by right-leaning leaders, have shown support. Notably, in December, a candidate endorsed by former President Trump, Nasry Asfura, was elected as Honduras’ president.
Last week, Guatemala refuted claims that it had agreed to conduct joint operations with the U.S. against drug traffickers within its borders, although it acknowledged requesting assistance from Washington in combatting cartels.
Recently, American commandos collaborated with Ecuadorian forces in a mission aimed at dismantling a suspected criminal stronghold operated by an alleged narco-terrorist group along the coast of Ecuador.
