Operation Hestia leads to six arrests linked to alleged extortion network

Six people were arrested in Honduras during nationwide raids targeting an alleged criminal structure accused of extorting merchants and business owners. The arrests involved four women and two men, who will be placed before the courts, according to authorities.

Operation Hestia also identified one person who remains at large. Authorities said the alleged leader of the structure is in prison, but did not disclose that person’s identity. The operation involved the Technical Agency for Criminal Investigation, the Public Ministry’s Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Organized Crime and the Military Police of Public Order.

Investigators carried out nine home raids and three inspections in Tegucigalpa, Danlí, El Paraíso and Olanchito. In the capital, operations focused on El Chimbo village, on the road to Santa Lucía, and the La Esperanza neighborhood near Morazán Boulevard.

Authorities allege that the group called people working in various commercial activities, demanded large payments through bank deposits and used death threats to pressure its victims. Spokesman Jorge Galindo said seven arrest warrants were being executed against people allegedly linked to the structure.

The investigation also detected financial movements considered atypical. After reviewing the transactions, specialists identified more than 51 million lempiras without a lawful explanation. Authorities are seeking to establish the origin and destination of the money and whether the transactions involved funds obtained through extortion.