Extortion

A 36-year-old security supervisor in San Pedro Sula was found unharmed after police determined he had staged his own abduction and sent WhatsApp messages demanding one million lempiras (about $40,000) from his wife; he was taken to a police station and will be referred to prosecutors on a charge of simulating a nonexistent offense.

Police rescued a man who staged his own kidnapping after his family deposited 20,000 lempiras (about $800) of the 50,000 he demanded; officers found him unharmed with the withdrawal receipt and 19,800 lempiras in cash.

A judge held an initial hearing against Wilmer Alexander Mejía Medina on charges of extorting a protected witness, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 21.

José Enrique Amaya, 29, was arrested in Yoro after police discovered he had staged his own kidnapping using tomato paste to simulate wounds, demanding 600,000 lempiras (about $24,000) from his sister in the United States.

Eleven Honduran police officers will learn their sentences on June 29 for allegedly planting evidence on two Filipino nationals and robbing them during an illegal 2023 raid in Villanueva, Cortés.

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.

Police rescued a student held for ransom in Siguatepeque after kidnappers demanded 2 million lempiras (about $80,000) for his release.

The National Congress's Telecommunications Commission is advancing reforms to combat inmates' use of mobile phones and communications equipment to conduct extortion, including proposed penalties for satellite companies and prison officials who allow contraband devices into facilities.