Tegucigalpa-Danlí bus route halted by extortion threats

Bus services on the Tegucigalpa-Danlí route in Honduras have been paralyzed since Saturday morning following extortion threats from criminal organizations. The suspension affects routes heading towards Danlí, El Maguelar, Villa Santa, and Jutiapa, creating significant disruption and fear among both transport operators and the public.

The shutdown has impacted the mobility of hundreds of people who rely on these services to travel to the eastern part of the country. Passengers were notified of the service suspension early in the morning, but this did not prevent widespread discontent among users unable to reach their destinations.

Wilmer Cálix, a leader in the urban transport sector, revealed the severe financial toll extortion has taken on the industry. He stated that the transport sector has paid an estimated 21 billion lempiras to organized crime specifically for extortion payments. This highlights the pervasive nature of organized crime and its direct impact on essential public services and the daily lives of citizens in Honduras.

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The transport sector has paid 21 billion lempiras to organized crime for extortion payments.