Honduras declares national emergency over increasing criminal gang extortions

Honduran President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency on Thursday to launch what she called a "war against extortion" in the country amid an escalating number of extortion crimes by criminal gang groups. 

The government also started a new executing strategy to tackle the violations with the deployment of 20,000 police officers, additional security measures for the highways, and anti-money laundering measures, according to a report in Reuters.

The socialist president unveiled the new strategy to fight extortion that plagues the country in a televised address, which would permit the suspension of several constitutional rights in regions where criminal activity prevails.

The measures went into effect on the same day, but the authority still needs to authorize the suspension of fundamental rights. The proclamation also permits the Honduran government to utilize public funds to combat the criminal gangs involved in kidnapping and drug trafficking.

Castro indicated that the police and the army will be in charge of carrying out necessary operations to dismantle the criminal groups.

The announcement came amid mounting pressure from businessmen, transportation drivers, and NGOs who claim that recent months have seen an increase in extortion, mostly by the Mara Salvatrucha MS-13 and Mara Barrio 18 gangs.

MG