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🇭🇳 Honduras /Conflict & Security

Ex-General Calls for Probe into "Macho Coca's" Corruption Allegations Against Honduran Military Officials

From Proceso Digital · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A retired Honduran general urged state institutions to investigate allegations of drug money payments to military officials.
  • The claims were attributed to Costa Rican drug trafficker Gilberth Bell Fernández, known as “Macho Coca,” based on U.S. investigations.
  • The general emphasized the need for the Armed Forces, National Police, and Public Ministry to verify the accusations.

Retired Honduran General Luis Maldonado Galeas has called on national institutions to thoroughly investigate allegations that drug money was paid to military officers. These accusations stem from investigations by U.S. authorities and are attributed to Costa Rican drug trafficker Gilberth Bell Fernández, also known as “Macho Coca.”

We must take it into account as something that should put state institutions on alert to conduct the corresponding investigation.

— Luis Maldonado GaleasThe retired general stated that the allegations of drug payments to military officials warrant attention and investigation from state institutions.

Maldonado Galeas stressed that the Honduran Armed Forces, National Police, and Public Ministry must verify the substance of these claims. He stated that such information, particularly when originating from U.S. investigations, warrants serious attention from state institutions to conduct the necessary inquiries. The former general believes that military institutions should clarify any potential links between their personnel and the accusations.

He further explained that intelligence and security matters often require discretion and do not always need public disclosure while investigations are ongoing. "Intelligence and investigation matters also do not benefit from being made public, but only when necessary," Maldonado Galeas noted. However, he insisted that investigative and oversight bodies must act on any allegations that could implicate officials or members of national security forces.

Intelligence and investigation matters also do not benefit from being made public, but only when necessary.

— Luis Maldonado GaleasThe general explained the need for discretion in handling intelligence and security investigations while they are in progress.

Maldonado Galeas concluded by asserting that public declarations from judicial bodies should be taken seriously, as they often indicate indicators supporting such assertions. The call for investigation highlights concerns about potential corruption within the military and security apparatus in Honduras.

If there is a public declaration and they make it from the judicial instances, then it must be considered that they have indicators that have to do with this assertion.

— Luis Maldonado GaleasMaldonado Galeas affirmed that public statements from judicial bodies regarding such allegations should be taken seriously as they suggest supporting evidence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Proceso Digital in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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