The Armed Forces and the Fight against Drug-Trafficking in Honduras (Las FUERZAS ARMADAS EN EL COMBATE AL NARCOTR FICO EN HONDURAS)

At present drug-trafficking in Honduras has ceased to be merely a social problem and has become a real menace to the security of the state. It has demonstrated a capacity to influence public security, as well as the political, economic, and social sectors of the national democratic system. This research is focused on answering the following question Is drug-trafficking a problem which should be confronted by the Honduran Armed Forces In order to answer it, the methodology focuses on analyzing the present situation concerning drug-trafficking in Honduras as well as the operational methods used by the armed forces to confront drug-trafficking. This was done using a matrix which compares strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and challenges, which in turn were analyzed in terms of the present doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel, and facilities used by the Honduran Armed Forces in order to determine possible strategies which may be used to combat drug-trafficking. The thesis concludes that the government should use its armed forces to combat drug-trafficking because it is a trustworthy organization which has credibility, the capacity, the leadership, the organization, the human resources, its units are strategically deployed, and it has the air, land, and naval assets needed to confront this problem adequately with the support of other governmental and international institutions in order ensure the legality and legitimacy of its operations and provide peace, security and tranquility to Honduran society and the international community.