Honduran president called for resignation over alleged ties between relatives and drug traffickers

TEGUCIGALPA (AP) — The head of an anti-corruption organization on Wednesday called on Honduran President Xiomara Castro to resign after a video surfaced showing her brother-in-law allegedly receiving drug money in 2013.

“I am writing to you as a citizen committed to transparency and integrity in public service. In this regard, I feel obliged to formally request your resignation from the position of constitutional president of the Republic of Honduras,” said Gabriela Castellanos, director of the non-governmental organization National Anti-Corruption Council.

In a public letter posted on social media, Castellanos explained that “this request is based on the serious accusations of drug trafficking that have been brought against the family circle, whom you have appointed to structure the State in the different secretariats.”

The day before, a video was released that was recorded 11 years ago in which drug traffickers, currently in prison in the United States, are heard offering 13 million lempiras (plus 525,000 dollars) to the president’s brother-in-law, Carlos Zelaya. During the meeting, Zelaya says that “half will go to the commander,” referring to his brother, former president Manuel Zelaya, who was overthrown in a coup in 2009 and who serves as Castro’s main advisor.

Carlos Zelaya, a deputy and secretary of Congress, acknowledged days ago that he had met with the leader of the drug trafficking organization “Los Cachiros” in 2013 and that the latter offered to support his party’s campaign that year, but explained that he was unaware that the people who attended the meeting were related to drug trafficking.

After the video was released, Castro said on radio and television that “dark forces” at home and abroad were organizing to carry out a coup d’état.

The president appeared accompanied by the Minister of Security, Gustavo Sánchez, and the new Minister of Defense, Rixi Moncada, and said that a “plan is underway to destroy my democratic socialist government.”

The turmoil in Castro’s government began last week after the U.S. ambassador to Honduras, Laura Dogu, criticized two senior Honduran officials who traveled to Venezuela to meet with the country’s defense minister, who is accused of drug trafficking by the U.S. justice system.

The ambassador’s opinion was poorly received by the Castro government, which immediately ordered the termination of the extradition treaty that existed with the United States.

Speaking to The Associated Press, analyst and former presidential candidate Olban Valladares called the argument of a coup plan “absurd” and said Castro “insists on the same old refrains.”

Castro had raised hopes when she was elected the Central American country’s first female president in 2021 with her promise to end corruption and the “narco-dictatorship” behind the presidency of Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced in June to 45 years in prison by a U.S. court on drug trafficking charges.