Honduras: Taxi drivers implore criminal groups to stop the killings

Taxi drivers in Honduras have issued a desperate plea to criminal groups operating in the country, urging them to cease the killings. Saúl Ventura, a leader within the taxi sector, highlighted the recent loss of several colleagues who were murdered by criminal structures.

Ventura stated that taxi drivers are consistently meeting the extortion demands imposed by these groups. "We fulfill our commitment," he said, adding that it is now time for the criminal groups to uphold their part of the bargain by ensuring the drivers' safety. The drivers feel they are complying with financial demands but are still facing violence.

Extortion in Honduras involves using violence or intimidation to force individuals into actions or legal agreements that harm their assets or those of a third party. The transportation sector is one of the hardest-hit by this illicit activity, though criminal groups target various industries. According to a report by the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ), approximately 304,000 Honduran households are victims of extortion. So far this year, eight taxi drivers have been killed, primarily due to extortion-related issues, underscoring the severe danger faced by those in the profession.