Tag: Honduras Security Threats

Illegal Guns in Honduras

There are an estimated 1.8 million guns circulating in Honduras. Out of the total number of guns, 600,000, or one-third, are legally registered., according to media in Honduras. 80 percent of all crimes in Honduras is committed with an unregistered gun. The areas where the highest number of illegal guns are circulating is reportedly in… Continue reading Illegal Guns in Honduras

Losses to Fuel Smuggling in Honduras

Criminal fuel smuggling costs the government of Honduras $230 Million, or 10 percent of its annual fuel imports. Economic and finance officials state that smugglers purchase fuel in Venezuela where it is heavily subsided by the government. The smugglers then transport the fuel illegally into Honduras. Source:  Charles Parkinson, “Fuel Trafficking Costs Honduras $230 Mn… Continue reading Losses to Fuel Smuggling in Honduras

Private Security Companies in Honduras

There are over 700 legitimate private security companies in Honduras that are staffed with over 70,000 security guards.  In comparison, there are 16,00 police officers and 14,000 army soldiers in the country. There are around 300 illegal security companies operating in the country. Government security officials claim that organized crime groups create security companies in… Continue reading Private Security Companies in Honduras

Effects of Organized Crime to Central America’s Economy

A study conducted by the World Bank found that the economic costs to the Central America region due to organized crime violence is $6.5 Billion per year. The costs associated with the violence decreases the region’s GDP by 7.7 percent. The impact of organized crime and drug trafficking violence on the countries GDP is as… Continue reading Effects of Organized Crime to Central America’s Economy

Number of Murders in Honduras as of 2013

A report by NPR in June 2013 stated that up to 20 people were being killed in Honduras each day and that the country has the highest murder rate in the world. In the city of San Pedro Sula, over 1,200 people were killed in 2012. Two major causes for the high rate of murders… Continue reading Number of Murders in Honduras as of 2013

Guns in Mexico and Central America

A report released by the Collective Security Analysis for Democracy stated that there were 2.8 million unregistered firearms in Central America, and an additional 15 million unregistered guns in Mexico. According to the study, the majority of these guns are used by organized crime gangs and drug trafficking cartels to carry out their illicit activities.… Continue reading Guns in Mexico and Central America

Arrests in the Rio Grande Valley

Criminal justice agencies on the US-Mexico border have seen arrests for human smuggling in the Rio Grande Valley increase by 65 percent as more people attempt to enter the US. In March 2013, US Border Patrol agents arrested 16,000 people who were attempting to enter the country. Between October 2012 to March 2013, authorities found… Continue reading Arrests in the Rio Grande Valley

Extortion Money in Honduras

Organized crime groups in Honduras make an estimated $62.6 Million a year in extortion money and other threats to businesses. Up to 17,500 small businesses in Honduras were estimated to have been forced to shut down due to the extortion payments in 2012. In the city of Tegucigalpa alone, up to 14,000 vendors pay about… Continue reading Extortion Money in Honduras

Lawyers Killed by Organized Crime in Honduras

Between 2010 and April 2013, organized crime groups and common criminals have killed 59 lawyers across Honduras, according to the National Human Rights Commissioner. 6 lawyers have been killed in the first four months of 2013. In 2012, there were 15 killings of lawyers, 26 in 2011, and 12 killings in 2010. According to the… Continue reading Lawyers Killed by Organized Crime in Honduras