Daet

Honduras's Anti-Extortion and Terrorist Associations Division (DAET) has arrested 224 suspects in two months while focusing operations on five high-crime zones—Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Atlántida, Choluteca, and Comayagua—using a scaled force of about 400 agents supported by intelligence and investigation units.

The anti-extortion and counterterrorism division arrested a man known as "El Matata," allegedly an MS-13 gang leader in the Sula Valley, seizing a firearm and cocaine with an illicit market value of over 750,000 lempiras (about $30,000).

The anti-extortion and terrorist-association unit arrested an active member of Pandilla 18 who authorities say was assigned to coordinate the gang's illicit operations in the Amarateca valley area of the capital.

Police arrested two alleged members of the 18th Street Gang caught collecting extortion payments from transport operators and small business owners in Amarateca, seizing cash, phones, and a motorcycle.

Honduras's new Anti-Extortion and Terrorist Associations Division (DAET) arrested 29 people linked to criminal structures in its first 25 days, including 10 through judicial warrants and 19 caught in the act, mostly suspected MS-13 members.

The National Police began vetting 780 officers for the new Anti-Extortion and Terrorist Associations Division (Daet), which replaces the disbanded Dipampco unit and will focus on extortion, criminal networks, and organized-crime operations.

The National Police announced that approximately 90% of officers from the disbanded anti-gang unit Dipampco will not transfer to the new Anti-Extortion and Terrorist Associations Division (DAET), which requires specialized training and certified personnel, with the remainder potentially reassigned elsewhere.

At least 187 former members of the disbanded Dipampco anti-gang unit have been referred to Human Resources and may face dismissal if an internal investigation finds they committed crimes, authorities say.