Honduras turns to Ukrainian drones to fight drug trafficking
Photo: FPV drone operator (Vitalii Nosach - RBC-Ukraine)
Honduras plans to purchase drones from Ukraine as part of its efforts to combat drug trafficking and strengthen border security, according to the President of Honduras, Nasry Asfura.
This statement came amid the country’s fight against organized crime, gang violence, and drug trafficking networks, which continue to pose serious security challenges.
Last week, Asfura met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. During the talks, the Ukrainian President proposed cooperation in the field of military technology, particularly drone systems, as Ukraine seeks to expand its partnerships beyond Europe, the agency reports.
Speaking to reporters in Panama City during the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, Asfura stated that this technology could help authorities monitor remote areas and detect criminal activity.
"We are talking about drones to protect our borders, to efficiently guard our borders, to fight against organized crime with high-tech equipment," he says.
The Honduran leader added that Ukraine "can help us a lot to further secure our borders and fight drug trafficking," and called this issue "a matter of national security."
Drug problem in Honduras
The agency notes that Honduras has long been used as a transit route for cocaine shipments moving north from South America and is increasingly facing concerns about local coca cultivation and cocaine processing.
Law enforcement officials have uncovered plantations and laboratories in remote regions, raising concerns that the country is transforming from a drug trafficking corridor into a more active part of the drug production chain.
In Honduras, the homicide rate is about 24 per 100,000 residents, which is nearly four times the global average.
Ukraine has become world-renowned for its drones, a development spurred by Russian aggression. There has also been talk in the US about purchasing Ukrainian drones, but President Donald Trump has not taken a clear stance on the matter.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the development of new Ukrainian-made drones capable of striking targets behind Russian lines at a distance of 3,000 kilometers.
