In photos: the nest of narcos in northwestern Honduras
For years it was an open secret that drug traffickers seized control of this mountainous region of tropical pine forests. Now a drug case in New York has revealed a massive conspiracy allegedly involving some of the top local families and possibly lifting the veil over their alleged illicit activities. Univision spent four days last week interviewing local officials and townspeople to get a sense of the potential political impact of the trial which has transfixed residents. Municipal officials, congressmen and even the president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, have been implicated. Now, local people are on the edge of their seats, waiting for the final episode of a real-life soap opera, to see who will go to jail and for how long.
September 30, 2019 08:53 AM
September 30, 2019 11:31 AM
Gracias Lempira (ENG).JPGThe central park of Gracias, Lempira, shows its indigenous history and the Spanish colonial era.David Adams/Univision
PHOTOS/Daysi Iglesias1.JPGDaysi Iglesias sells 'ticusos' a corn dough with beans as well as fruit juices, in the central square of Gracias, Honduras. "Yes, I know that the president's brother is in jail, but only they know what they've been up to. I've no idea. We just stick to our work."
PHOTOS/Domingo Gutierrez.jpgGracias coffee grower, Domingo Gutierrez, 58, seated in the central square. Coffee prices have fallen and he struggles to make a living off his eight acres.
PHOTOS/Casa del presidente en Gracias.jpg
PHOTOS/Cubate house.jpgThe house of former Gracias deputy mayor, Mario Jose Calix, who was indicted in January with New York and U.S. officials have requested the extradition of Calix, though his whereabouts are unknown. Univision visited his home in Gracias and spoke to his mother who said she hasn't seen her son son "in ages."Marvin Valladares/Univision
PHOTOS/casa en construccion en Gracias.jpgOn the outskirts of Gracias, several modern, luxury residences are under construction that stand out in sharp contrast to the traditional, modest single-story homes in the town.Marvin Valladares/Univision
Gracias municipality.pngThe municipality of Gracias has 55,000 inhabitants, of which 22,000 live in the town and has an annual budget of approximately $ 2 million, according to the mayor.
Tony Hernandez and football.jpgEn Gracias, Tony Hernández es recordado como un típico ganadero que fue elegido para el congreso en 2013, así como un apasionado jugador de fútbol.Municipio de Gracias, Lempira/Facebook
PHOTOS/Gracias airport.jpgIn April 2016 the government inaugurated a small, local airport on the outskirts of town as part of a national tourist plan to link major cities with the nearby famous ancient Mayan ruins of Copan. But the tourists never came.David Adams/Univision
PHOTOS/Gracias airport2.JPGThe Gracias airport runway is now used almost exclusively by president Hernandez who visits at weekends. Residents also talk in hushed tones of suspicious planes landing in the dead of night bringing cocaine from Colombia, and the eastern Atlantic coast of Honduras.David Adams/Univision
PHOTOS/Map of Honduras.jpgWestern Honduras is a remote border area with Guatemala and El Salvador.Mauricio Rodriguez-Pons/Univision
PHOTOS/El Paraiso.JPGEl Paraiso, Honduras, is nestled into the mountains of northwest Honduras just a few miles from the border with Guatemala. Draf traffickers took advantage of its strategic location to smuggle cocaine across the border.David Adams/Univision
PHOTOS/El Paraiso municipality.jpgMayor Alexander Ardon built a splendid new municipal building with a portico with columns that became famous in the Honduran media. But local residents say he did good things for the town, providing basic services they didn't have before.Claudia Mendoza/Univision
PHOTOS/El Paraiso iglesia.jpgEven if some of the public works in El Paraiso may have been paid for with drug money, residents said they were grateful. When killings took place they were mostly between the drug traffickers. they added.Claudia Mendoza/Univision
PHOTOS/El Paraiso streets.jpgEl Paraiso is a quiet town located in the province of Copan, in northwest Honduras. It became notorious in recent years as a haven for drug traffickers seeking to transport cocaine into Guatemala en route to the United States.Cludia Mendoza/Univison
PHOTOS/El Paraiso iglesia y parque.jpgAcross from the El Paraiso town hall, a new park is being built wiht miunicpal funds, complete with a replica of a Mayan temple. The town in close to the famous Mayan ruins of Copan, one of the country's main tourist attractions.Claudia Mendoza/Univision
PHOTOS/Adonias Morales.JPGAdonias Morales, 53, mayor of El Paraíso in his office. His close friend and former mayor, Alexander Ardon, turned himself in to the DEA in February and is expected to testify against Tony Hernandez, brother of the Honduran president, who goes to trial in New York on October 2, accused of being "a violent multi-ton drug trafficker."David Adams/Univision
Marvin.JPGUnivision cameraman, Marvin Valladares, captures images of hillsides cloaked in mist in western Honduras.David Adams/Univision