Ten months since the narco video, the prosecutor remains silent as Honduras faces escalating political crisis

Ten months after the release of a video linking a key figure in the presidential circle to drug trafficking, the Honduran Attorney General’s Office has yet to produce any concrete results. The Public Ministry’s inaction in the face of a scandal involving President Xiomara Castro’s inner circle has intensified political pressure and fueled growing distrust in institutions.

District attorney’s office lacking definitive responses in prominent case

Since September 2024, following the release of a video referred to as the “narco-video” that depicted Carlos Zelaya, sibling of ex-President Manuel Zelaya and related by marriage to President Castro, engaging with individuals involved in drug dealing, the Prosecutor’s Office has neither filed any official charges nor disclosed any tangible developments in the investigation. In this video, the participants propose providing 13 million lempiras to support the 2013 campaign of LIBRE, the presently ruling party.

After the leak, Carlos Zelaya resigned from his position as deputy and secretary of the National Congress. His son, José Manuel Zelaya, who was then secretary of defense, did the same. Rafael Sarmiento, head of the ruling party’s parliamentary group, also resigned. However, beyond these departures, there have been no concrete legal actions.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced that the situation is “being examined,” with a request for judicial cooperation from the United States to access the full video and paperwork concerning earlier trials. Nevertheless, as of now, there are no known outcomes from these actions, and no schedule for a public inquiry has been shared.

Political reactions and demands for accountability

The launch of the video triggered a multitude of responses from various segments. President Xiomara Castro criticized any connections between political figures and criminal organizations, yet portrayed the disclosure as an effort to undermine her administration in the run-up to the 2025 elections.

However, for groups focused on combating corruption and opposing factions, the controversy has cast doubt on the credibility of LIBRE’s political agenda. Various stakeholders have even urged the president to step down, claiming that the situation conflicts with her narrative of moving away from previous practices and combating the narco-state.

These roles demonstrate increasing strain within the country’s political sphere, where demands for responsibility conflict with an institutional reaction seen as inadequate. The absence of definitive measures by the Public Prosecutor’s Office has driven the story of impunity in situations concerning individuals linked to power.

Deterioration of institutions amidst a polarized electoral environment

The “narco-video” has not been an isolated episode. It joins a series of recent scandals that have weakened public confidence in the promises of change made by the Castro administration. The lack of judicial responses has reinforced the perception that the state apparatus does not act with the same force when those involved are part of the ruling party.

With general elections scheduled for November 2025, this case takes on strategic importance. The opposition has begun to capitalize on the government’s erosion, while the ruling party seeks to minimize the impact of the scandal on its public narrative. In this scenario, social demands for transparency and justice remain a constant source of pressure.

A case that sets the tone for Honduran institutions

Nearly twelve months following its publication, the cartel-related video continues to evade evident legal repercussions, as doubts increase about the involvement of the Attorney General’s Office and the administration’s dedication to openness. The extended inaction only serves to further weaken the credibility of institutions in a nation characterized by a legacy of impunity and the ongoing impact of organized crime on governance.

The handling of this case represents not only an immediate challenge for the government of Xiomara Castro, but also a critical test for the strength of the rule of law in Honduras. How it is resolved or ignored will set the course for institutional credibility in the face of a highly polarized electoral process.