Revelations of Honduran narco shake political system: dark ties to organized crime.

In the midst of a trial that has shaken the political foundations of Honduras, Devis Leonel Rivera, founder of the Honduran cartel Los Cachiros, has exposed the dark links between organized crime and the political class of the Central American country. In statements to the United States prosecutors, Rivera stated that he had no intention of assassinating his partner, former President Juan Orlando Hernández, despite pressures from other drug traffickers. Rivera, who confessed to committing 78 murders and is currently serving a life sentence in the United States, revealed that he had close relationships with Honduran politicians, including the former President Hernández, whom he bribed in exchange for protection for the cocaine trafficking from Colombia. The drug trafficker also mentioned that other political leaders, such as former President Porfirio Lobo, were involved in corruption schemes and providing protection to criminal organizations. During his testimony, Rivera highlighted that his collaboration with the DEA began in 2013, which eventually led him to surrender to US authorities in 2015. The drug trafficker detailed how he paid million-dollar bribes to various politicians and members of the Honduran security forces to ensure his impunity and continue his illicit operations. In an attempt to reduce his sentence, Rivera committed to cooperate with the prosecution and reveal key information about the drug trafficking network in the region. However, the defense of Juan Orlando Hernández has questioned the credibility of the collaborating witnesses, arguing that they seek benefits in exchange for their statements and lack concrete evidence of the alleged bribes. The trial against the former Honduran president, accused of conspiracy with drug trafficking and arms trafficking, has exposed the vulnerability of political and justice systems in the Central American region to the influence of organized crime. With San Pedro Sula as the epicenter of the cocaine route to the United States, the DEA has emphasized the importance of dismantling these criminal networks operating in multiple countries in the region. In this context, Juan Orlando Hernández faces the possibility of spending the rest of his days in prison, joining his brother Tony Hernández, who has already been convicted for his involvement in criminal activities. The trial continues to unveil the complex web of corruption, drug trafficking, and violence that has permeated Honduran politics and society, revealing the urgent need to strengthen institutions and combat impunity in the region.