Honduras' 'Iron Fist' Policy: A Hardline Approach to Gang Crime

Honduras has implemented an 'iron fist' policy to tackle rampant crime by seizing weapons and arresting suspected gang members. Under President Xiomara Castro, the strategy designates gang members as terrorists and involves deploying security forces into crime-heavy areas. Critics and residents remain doubtful about the policy's effectiveness.

Honduran police have seized hundreds of guns and arrested numerous alleged gang members following a month-long 'iron fist' campaign to combat drug- and gang-related crime.

Sanctioned by President Xiomara Castro, this hardline strategy, known in Spanish as 'mano duro,' involves designating gang members as terrorists and dispatching security forces to high-crime neighborhoods. A new mega-prison is planned to house over 20,000 inmates.

This approach mirrors neighboring El Salvador's severe tactics, though there is skepticism about its potential success in Honduras. Critics, including security analyst Saul Bueso, question the real outcomes of the emergency measures, suggesting crime persists despite claimed reductions. Residents like Tegucigalpa's Norma Ochoa remain unconvinced, citing ongoing violence and crime in their daily lives.

(With inputs from agencies.)