Suspected Mastermind of Plantation Massacre Arrested in Honduras

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Tegucigalpa, Honduras: Honduran authorities have arrested a man accused of orchestrating the killing of 19 workers at a palm plantation in the country's conflict-ridden Bajo Aguan region last month.

Officials identified the suspect as Carlos Molina, also known as ‘El Gato Negro’(The Black Cat), and said he is believed to have planned and supported the attack. Authorities said at least six other people were involved in carrying out the massacre, but none have been arrested so far.

The killings took place in Bajo Aguan, an area long affected by violence linked to disputes over palm plantations and drug trafficking routes.

The arrest comes as Honduras intensifies efforts to combat organized crime and rising violence. Lawmakers have recently approved new security measures, including a greater role for the military in public safety operations and the creation of a specialized anti-organized crime unit.

The reforms also pave the way for gangs and drug cartels to be designated as terrorist organizations as the government seeks to curb one of the region’s highest homicide rates.

Pic Credit: AFP