This week, InSight Crime obtained and published a video that showed the Honduran president’s brother-in-law, Carlos Zelaya, negotiating bribes.
** Weekly InSight
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September 6, 2024
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This week, InSight Crime obtained and published ([link removed]) a video that showed the Honduran president’s brother-in-law, Carlos Zelaya, negotiating bribes with drug traffickers. The video caused a crisis for President Xiomara Castro’s government, which was elected in a landslide in 2021 on a platform to combat drug trafficking and corruption.
The scandal comes days after Castro said she would end ([link removed]) Honduras’ extradition agreement with the United States in a move seen as an effort to shield politically connected elites from facing justice abroad.
Also this week, cocaine cropped up in unexpected places. Guyana made a 4.4-ton seizure ([link removed]) , putting the country firmly on the drug trafficking map. Meanwhile, a 3-ton seizure ([link removed]) in Venezuela from a plane allegedly destined for Afghanistan, with a layover in Russia, has highlighted drug trafficking routes to Asia.
And the Maduro regime seized an opportunity to discredit the opposition with a fierce security operation ([link removed]) against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Llano, which may do little to help his image and could instead bolster criminal groups.
** Featured
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** Narco Video Shows Traffickers Discussing Bribes With Honduras President’s Brother-in-Law ([link removed])
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InSight Crime has obtained a video in which some of Honduras’ top drug traffickers met with a member of the first family and offered to give over half a million dollars to help Honduras’ ruling party in an unsuccessful run for office by now-President Xiomara Castro.
The meeting, which happened during Castro’s failed 2013 bid for the presidency, was attended by Carlos Zelaya, Castro’s brother-in-law. Carlos Zelaya admitted to journalists during an impromptu press conference on August 31 that he went to San Pedro Sula at the invitation of several “businessmen” and spoke to the drug traffickers.
Read the article > ([link removed]) [link removed] the full video > ([link removed])
** News Analysis
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** Honduras Just Killed Its Best Drug War Weapon ([link removed])
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The Honduran government announced that it plans to end its extradition agreement with the United States in a move that will scupper the country’s ability to tackle drug trafficking … ([link removed])
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** A 3-Ton Cocaine Seizure in Venezuela Highlights Asia Trafficking Routes ([link removed])
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The seizure of a three-ton cocaine shipment at Venezuela’s main airport highlights the role of airport infrastructure and exposes an unusual drug trafficking route. ([link removed])
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** Why Venezuela’s Repression of Tren del Llano Could Feed Anti-Regime Protests ([link removed])
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Gang threats against the Venezuelan regime over July’s election results handed the government … ([link removed])
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** Increased Foreign Presence Around Guyana Is Helping Net More Cocaine ([link removed])
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An enormous cocaine seizure in Guyana highlights the authorities’ dependence on foreign assistance in detecting the large quantities … ([link removed])
** Impact
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What We Do > ([link removed])
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The video published by InSight Crime showing the president’s brother-in-law negotiating bribes with drug traffickers sent shockwaves through the country. A late-night video address by the country’s president did nothing to dampen the scandal and Castro faces growing calls for her resignation.
InSight Crime’s director, Steven Dudley, told Honduran network Hoy Mismo that it was wrong to think of drug traffickers “penetrating” Honduran politics because they were already part of the country’s political and economic elites. “What caught my attention is how casual this was,” he added.
Within 12 hours, over 140 news sites cited InSight Crime’s article. The story led Honduran television news coverage and appeared on the front pages of Honduras’ major papers.
Read the story > ([link removed])
** This Week's Criminal Profile: Cachiros
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The Cachiros were one of Honduras’ largest drug trafficking organizations and its leaders, brothers Devis and Javier Rivera Maradiaga, were at the center of the drug trafficking scandal that rocked Honduras this week. Both Riveras were at the meeting where Carlos Zelaya negotiated bribes with drug traffickers and the video was filmed by Devis Rivera using a spy watch.
At the time, the Cachiros had been hit with US sanctions and property seizures in Honduras. Sensing that a criminal indictment was looming, the Riveras started recording meetings with high-level politicians and traffickers to use the footage as leverage in a potential plea deal with US authorities.
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Read our Cachiros profile > ([link removed])
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Read our Honduras coverage > ([link removed])
** Multimedia
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“Half will be for the commander, the rest we will share with Santa Bárbara, Olancho, and Colón.”
Carlos Zelaya negotiates with drug traffickers, offering a $650,000 bribe for the failed 2013 presidential bid of now-president Xiomara Castro.
Read the article and watch the full video > ([link removed])
** Media Mentions
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September 4, 2024
Denver 7 ([link removed])
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"We have seen this gang expand into other countries, particularly in South America. So far, they have not seemed to make inroads in a sort of coordinated way in the United States."
Read our Tren de Aragua coverage > ([link removed])
** Trending Topic: As Security Force Withers in Haiti, International Community Looks for Alternatives
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With its secretary of state visiting Haiti, the US hopes the Kenyan-led security operation can become a formal UN mission. The Kenyan and Haitian police are struggling to make progress securing the country and funding runs dry, and with widespread gang control, Haiti has yet to come up with a cohesive response. Read our coverage ([link removed]) ([link removed]) of Haiti's criminal dynamics.
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** Pressure Grows for Kenyan Police Fighting Haiti’s Gangs ([link removed])
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** Haiti’s Disorganized Organized Crime Strategy ([link removed])
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Read the article > ([link removed])
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