Honduras evaluates localized state of exception to combat crime

Honduran security authorities and the National Congress are evaluating measures to combat rising criminality, including the potential implementation of a localized state of exception. Security Secretary Gerzon Velásquez confirmed that officials are analyzing the possibility of declaring certain criminal structures as terrorist associations.

The proposed state of exception would not be nationwide but focused on specific micro-territories identified as high-violence zones. Under these measures, authorities could potentially conduct searches and arrests without prior judicial authorization under certain circumstances, subject to subsequent validation. The strategy also includes the creation of specialized courts and prosecutor's offices, alongside increased coordination between the National Police, Armed Forces, and the Judiciary.

Legislative Secretary Carlos Ledezma stated that the National Congress is prepared to approve necessary security reforms once the National Council for Defense and Security (CNDS) issues its formal determinations. Ledezma emphasized that security measures should be addressed through technical analysis rather than political interests to ensure the well-being of the population.