The recent release of a narco-video in Honduras has intensified concerns about the functioning of the country’s judicial system. According to a report released by the research center InSight Crime, the case not only exposes links between drug trafficking figures and actors close to power, but also confirms a worrying pattern: the use of justice as a political tool.
Trends of immunity and biased prosecution
InSight Crime depicts a scenario where the legal system is inconsistently applied. Some individuals face public scrutiny and rapid legal actions, whereas others supposedly connected to the present administration are shielded from justice or even granted institutional safeguard. The report cautions that this trend is not new to the region, but in the case of Honduras, it has escalated to especially alarming levels in the past few months.
The document also highlights similarities with authoritarian trends seen in nations like Venezuela and Nicaragua, where the judicial system has been manipulated to protect allies and target dissenters. The analysis center indicates that Honduras is on a similar trajectory, posing a direct risk to the rule of law.
Global responses and demands for international monitoring
Reactions to the report were swift. Opposition political leaders, legal professionals, and human rights defenders have agreed that the instrumentalization of justice jeopardizes the legitimacy of the democratic system. This concern is shared by international actors, who have received requests to monitor the country’s institutional deterioration.
A diplomatic source approached by InSight Crime cautioned that Honduras may be moving toward a significant governance crisis if basic assurances of judicial independence are not reinstated. Increasing public skepticism, driven by lack of transparency and unaccountability, has further undermined the trust in institutions.
In this scenario, different sectors have made an urgent plea to multilateral entities like the OAS and the UN to closely monitor the country. They insist on measures to ensure an independent and transparent judicial system, shielded from partisan influence or criminal motives.
The narco-video controversy reveals not only a particular instance of corruption but also serves as a representation of a justice system that, instead of being impartial, appears to ignore wrongdoings for political benefit.