Honduras boosts air force in fight against drug smugglers
Honduras boosts air force in fight against drug smugglers
Source: Reuters - Fri, 17 Oct 2014 22:55 GMT
By Gustavo Palencia
TEGUCIGALPA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Honduras bought two combat planes from Brazil's Embraer and received donated military aircraft worth $36 million from Taiwan, part of the Central American country's efforts to step up its fight against drug traffickers, a senior military official said on Friday.
Honduras's air defenses will be boosted by the acquisition of two Brazilian Super Tucano turboprop planes, Gen. Fredy Diaz told reporters, without disclosing the cost.
He also announced that an Embraer Legacy 600 jet, which will mostly be used to transport President Juan Hernandez and other dignitaries, and four U.S.-made UH-1H helicopters had been donated from Taiwan at a combined value of about $36 million.
Hernandez, who took office in January, has pledged to crack down on drug crime that has blighted Honduras with the world's highest murder rate of 90.4 homicides per 100,000 people, according to the United Nations.
The Honduran Congress has given the green light to the air force to shoot down planes suspected of transporting drugs while traveling over Honduran airspace.
The United States had shared radar information with Honduras for tracking South American drug flights landing in the country, but suspended the agreement after the new law was approved.
More:
By Gustavo Palencia
TEGUCIGALPA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Honduras bought two combat planes from Brazil's Embraer and received donated military aircraft worth $36 million from Taiwan, part of the Central American country's efforts to step up its fight against drug traffickers, a senior military official said on Friday.
Honduras's air defenses will be boosted by the acquisition of two Brazilian Super Tucano turboprop planes, Gen. Fredy Diaz told reporters, without disclosing the cost. He also announced that an Embraer Legacy 600 jet, which will mostly be used to transport President Juan Hernandez and other dignitaries, and four U.S.-made UH-1H helicopters had been donated from Taiwan at a combined value of about $36 million.
Hernandez, who took office in January, has pledged to crack down on drug crime that has blighted Honduras with the world's highest murder rate of 90.4 homicides per 100,000 people, according to the United Nations.
The Honduran Congress has given the green light to the air force to shoot down planes suspected of transporting drugs while traveling over Honduran airspace.
The United States had shared radar information with Honduras for tracking South American drug flights landing in the country, but suspended the agreement after the new law was approved.
More:
http://www.trust.org/item/20141017225524-ffg7t/
