JUDY WOODRUFF: The drug crisis touches so many parts of our world.
Here now is a look at a related story about drug trafficking through Honduras. That country
will hold its elections in 10 days. And while its current president, Juan Orlando Hernandez,
is not on the ballot, he may soon be in the running for something else, a U.S. federal
indictment for trafficking cocaine to the United States.
As special correspondent Tania Rashid and producer-videographer Neil Brandvold report,
the Central American nation is a way station for violent drug cartels, and the first family
of Honduras appears to be deeply involved.
Tania begins her report in a section of the deadly city San Pedro Sula.
TANIA RASHID: It's after dark in Rivera Hernandez, one of the most dangerous towns in Honduras,
a country with the highest homicide rate in the world outside of a war zone.
The streets are deserted. Residents cower in their homes. Ahead of our ride-along with
the military police, we learned that there's been a recent spike in homicides, with 10
to 15 murders a day, much of the violence fueled by drugs.
So, this is a heavily gang-controlled area. There are numerous gangs operating here. They
all have guns and are also selling drugs. The most prominent drug that is sold in this
area is cocaine.
Despite a police show of force against MS-13 and 18th Street, the most powerful gangs here,
there are allegations that the police, cartels and gangs are working together. This violence
has forced tens of thousands of people to flee north toward the United States.
Honduras has become an international transit point for cocaine trafficking to the United
States. In one of the largest drug conspiracy cases ever prosecuted in U.S. federal courts,
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been accused of accepting millions of
dollars in bribes from drug cartels to provide safe transit of cocaine through the region.
In his most recent statement on Twitter, he denied both involvement with the cartels and
allegations against him made by U.S. prosecutors and key witnesses.
The president claims those testifying against him are cartel members seeking a deal to reduce
their sentences. This March, the president's brother, former Honduran Congressman Tony
Hernandez, was sentenced in the United States to life, plus 40 years in prison, after being
convicted of state-sponsored drug trafficking.
Trial evidence revealed that he had smuggled 185 tons of cocaine into the U.S.
So, for days, we have been walking through the streets of San Pedro Sula, and we have
seen signs like this that say "Fuera JOH," which basically means out with President Juan
Orlando Hernandez.
And that basically speaks to the sentiments of a lot of the people here, who are fed up
with the government and its corruption and its connections to the drug trade.
Social activist Hugo Ramon Maldonado has investigated thousands of disappearances linked to drug
violence and fears he could be murdered at any moment. He says a culture of silence and
fear permeates the region
HUGO RAMON MALDONADO, Social Activist (through translator): Look, when we talk about drug
trafficking, organized crime, and violent deaths in the country, it's a critical situation
in Honduras.
The police, military, politicians, and businessmen that are involved, we have to make them accountable.
But each one of them has to take responsibility for the damage caused to the country. Every
single family in the country has been affected by drug trafficking, organized crime, gangs,
poverty, and the misery we live in.
TANIA RASHID: Samuel Madrid, a leader in the opposition against President Hernandez, says
the government structures with direct ties to the cartels aren't going anywhere.
SAMUEL MADRID, Opposition Leader (through translator): The entire state structure is
on the cartels side. That is why this criminal structure that governs the country is more
dangerous than the gangs.
I believe we have a narco-state. They have used all of the state institutions for the
drug trade.
TANIA RASHID: Three of the most powerful cartels operate here. These cartels are responsible
for the trafficking of several tons of cocaine into the United States, with Honduras serving
as the main transit point between Colombia and the United States.
After weeks of waiting, our team was granted exclusive access to an active ranking member
of a Honduran cartel in the mountains of Copan.
So, we have driven through windy roads deep in the mountains about four to five hours
away into this remote area that is dominated by the cartels. There's no cell phone service
here. And, just days earlier, three people were shot to death in this small rural village.
U.S. intelligence reports confirm this is a key operational center for drug trafficking
from several Honduran cartels. Here in the Honduran heart of the drug trade, the cartel
has everything under their control. From the moment we arrived, our every move is being
monitored. Groups of young men took pictures of our car's license plate.
Julian Pacheco, the minister of security, says the cartels control the entire village
with state-like structures in place, including intelligence, and counterintelligence security.
Even Security Minister Pacheco is under investigation by the DEA for his alleged ties to the cartels.
According to reports published by the U.S. State Department, an estimated 86 percent
of the cocaine that arrives in North America goes through Central America. Most of the
cocaine passes through Honduras in light aircrafts.
This town is one of the main drug routes, housing many of Honduras' estimated 200 clandestine
airstrips, established by El Chapo Guzman, a notorious Mexican drug lord who in 2019
was sentenced to life in prison, plus 30 years at Colorado's Supermax facility.
After hours of waiting, we were guided to a secret location where the cartel leader
agreed to meet with us, as long as his identity was concealed.
How many years have you been working in this business?
MAN (through translator): 18 years.
TANIA RASHID: How did you get involved?
MAN (through translator): I used to work with cattle, feeding them and cleaning, also farming.
And the next thing I knew, I was dealing with the high ranks. Next thing, you needed to
be armed. There's distrust because this is a dangerous business.
TANIA RASHID: How does this business work?
MAN (through translator): We receive the orders from the high ranks. They send you on missions.
And you go as an employee, drug shipments and all of that, right?
TANIA RASHID: Is it an international operation?
MAN (through translator): Yes, it is international, international and very dangerous. What we
are doing here right now is very dangerous.
TANIA RASHID: Does the police or the military help you?
MAN (through translator): Yes. In Honduras, there are top-ranked police organizations.
They are the ones who protect the shipments the most. They have that respect with the
cartels in Mexico, the strongest ones. They did business with Chapo from Sinaloa. Chapo
Joaquin Guzman, he came here.
TANIA RASHID: How many cartels are there in Honduras right now?
MAN: Right now, the biggest cartel is within the Hernandez family, the president, Tony,
Juan Orlando, there, the two cartels, the Hernandez family.
TANIA RASHID: This is the first time an active member operating within a major Honduran cartel
admits the president and his family has direct ties to the drug trade.
Samuel Madrid says he sees a difficult future ahead under the current regime.
SAMUEL MADRID (through translator): People are hopeful this government will change. With
popular struggle on the streets, will be hard. They crush us with the military boot, with
bullets, with tanks. They crush and humiliate the people.
It will be hard. Our only option is to vote this government out during the elections in
November. However, I feel this government pretends to stay longer, no matter what.
TANIA RASHID: Recently, Santos Rodriguez Orellana, an independent candidate who publicly accused
President Juan Orlando Hernandez's brother of connections to drug trafficking, was arrested
on money laundering charges.
Elections are currently scheduled for the end of this month. And with Hernandez ending
his final term, many American officials believe that he may be indicted in New York for drug
trafficking as soon as he leaves office.
It remains unclear if he will try to circumvent the constitution and run again or will even
cancel these elections.
For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Tania Rashid with Neil Brandvold, reporting from Honduras.