In a recent address to the nation, the President of Honduras revealed plans for the construction of a massive 20,000-capacity 'megaprison' as part of a broader strategy to tackle gang violence and reform the country's troubled prison system. The move comes amidst escalating levels of narcoviolence and other criminal activities in the nation.
The President outlined a series of emergency measures, including bolstering the military's role in combating organized crime, treating drug traffickers as terrorists, and addressing prison overcrowding by constructing new facilities. The announcement mirrors similar initiatives undertaken by neighboring El Salvador, where a 40,000-capacity prison was recently built to accommodate a surge in detainees.
Security forces in Honduras have been tasked with conducting interventions in areas experiencing high rates of gang violence, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Plans are underway to establish the new 'megaprison' near the rural province of Olancho in the eastern part of the country.
The Honduran prison system currently houses 19,500 inmates in facilities designed for 13,000, leading to severe overcrowding. Efforts to address this issue include the construction of a 2,000-capacity island prison colony on the Islas del Cisne archipelago.
Proposed changes to the penal code would allow authorities to detain suspected gang leaders without formal charges and conduct mass trials akin to those for alleged terrorists. These measures reflect the government's hard-line approach to security, which intensified following a surge in narcoviolence in 2022.
While recent data shows a 20% decrease in homicides during the first five months of 2024 compared to the previous year, critics remain skeptical of the effectiveness of the government's tactics. Concerns persist over the enduring power of gangs and entrenched corruption in Honduras, despite some progress in reducing violent crime.
