Lobo Anti-Drug Trafficking Strategy Takes Shape

Honduras Weekly
The pieces of the Lobo administration's strategy to combat narcotrafficking in Honduras and the infiltration of government institutions by personnel on the payroll of Mexican drug cartels appears to be coming together. Criminal experts and investigators are starting to arrive from the Chile, Colombia, and Spain. They will work closely with Honduran security forces to analyze the threats and develop responses. On Wednesday, President Lobo and the president of the Honduran Congress, Juan Orlando Hernández, met in Miami, Florida, with a high-level US government delegation to discuss the details of planned expansion in US technical assistance and support personnel, specifically dealing with citizen security. The US delegation included Francisco Palmieri, who is the Bureau Chief for the US State Department's Office for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and representatives from the US Justice Department and the White House's National Security Council.

Yesterday, the Honduran Congress passed legislation allowing for the extradition of Honduran nationals charged with drug trafficking, organized crime, or terrorism. As of February 1, the government of Honduras will be able to sign extradition treaties with other countries, including the US, to permit Hondurans to be prosecuted by foreign governments.

Mr. Hernández noted that, with the international cooperation Honduras is receiving and the agreements concluded in Miami, there are some definite changes on the way. "As we have said that we could very well lose the country, now with the support that is being given to us by friendly nations we can say that we will be able to reclaim the peace and tranquility in Honduras. Nobody has the right to take away the life of another person," said Mr. Hernández. (1/20/12)