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Honduras declares three criminal groups as terrorist organizations
The National Defense and Security Council (CNDS) in Honduras has officially designated three criminal structures as terrorist organizations. This decision, announced by National Congress President Tomás Zambrano, utilizes legal reforms from Decree 84-2026, which expanded the definition of terrorist association to include gangs and drug trafficking networks.
To combat these groups, the government is establishing the National Crime Agency (ANC), led by Colonel Juan Alberto Ruiz Cerrato, to coordinate efforts between the police, military, and judicial branches. Additionally, the state will implement specialized judicial circuits to handle terrorism-related cases.
New security measures include a strict prison regime for high-risk inmates and members of these terrorist groups. This includes restricted communications and the potential transfer of individuals to maximum-security modules, even those currently in pretrial detention. While the CNDS has approved increased military and police presence in high-crime areas, President Zambrano stated that the government will not implement a new territorial state of exception at this time.
For operational security, the specific names of the three designated terrorist organizations have not been publicly disclosed.
Entities
Honduras · Juan Alberto Ruiz Cerrato · Nasry Asfura · National Against Crime Agency · National Crime Agency · National Defense and Security Council · Tomás Zambrano
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The measures are based on Decree 84-2026, which reformed the Penal Code to include terrorist association for gangs and drug trafficking networks. lanoticiasv.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The government has decided not to implement a new state of exception at this time. hondurasalinstante.com · lanoticiasv.com · www.tunota.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] Specialized judicial circuits will be created to handle terrorism-related cases. hch.tv · hondurasalinstante.com · www.mayatv.hn · lanoticiasv.com · hondumedios.hn
- [● 6 SOURCES] The National Defense and Security Council (CNDS) declared three criminal structures as terrorist organizations. hch.tv · hondurasalinstante.com · www.mayatv.hn · lanoticiasv.com · hondumedios.hn
- [● 6 SOURCES] Authorities will implement a special regime for high-risk inmates, including restricted communications and transfers to maximum security modules. hch.tv · hondurasalinstante.com · www.mayatv.hn · lanoticiasv.com · hondumedios.hn
- [● 4 SOURCES] Colonel Juan Alberto Ruiz Cerrato has been appointed to lead the National Crime Agency. hch.tv · hondumedios.hn · hondurasalinstante.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The National Crime Agency (ANC) has been created to coordinate anti-crime efforts. hch.tv · hondumedios.hn · hondurasalinstante.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The names of the three terrorist organizations have not been publicly revealed to maintain operational surprise. hch.tv · hondurasalinstante.com · lanoticiasv.com · hondumedios.hn