Central America
Brother of former honduran president arrested in $1.7 million COMIXMUL corruption case
Officials from the Public Ministry (Prosecutor’s Office) of Honduras, in coordination with the Military Police of Public Order and other institutions, arrested at least nine people on Friday, including a brother of former President Juan Orlando Hernández, for alleged corruption.
According to a statement from the Prosecutor’s Office, seven raids were carried out in the departments of Francisco Morazán and Comayagua in central Honduras, targeting a network composed of executives, employees, and private law firms that allegedly misappropriated large sums of money from the Cooperativa Mixta de Mujeres Unidas Limitada (COMIXMUL) several years ago.
The Prosecutor’s Office added that sources had “presented a third line of investigation showing the misappropriation of cooperative funds through the signing of fake professional service contracts, supposedly on behalf of the cooperative, amounting to over 47 million lempiras ($1.7 million).”
The arrested include Amílcar Hernández, the brother of former President Hernández, along with eight others, out of 22 individuals implicated in the case, including executives of the cooperative. The former president is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking.
According to the complaint, Amílcar Hernández, a lawyer, along with other legal professionals, provided professional services that resulted in fraudulent actions, in collusion with cooperative executives and employees.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated that it had identified a serious misappropriation of more than 37 million lempiras ($1.4 million) by private law firms, and that this irregular scheme has caused millions in losses for COMIXMUL since 2015.
Friday’s operation also included the seizure of three condominiums, two companies, and two vehicles, following charges for money laundering and aggravated continued embezzlement, among other offenses, against the twenty people linked to the case.
Previously, in March 2017, the Prosecutor’s Office arrested six former cooperative executives, who were later convicted of money laundering and financial crimes, and seized 51 properties, movable assets, and four companiesacross Tegucigalpa, Siguatepeque, Choluteca, and Valle.
Amílcar Hernández and the other detainees were presented before a judge in Tegucigalpa, with the hearing continuing on Saturday, according to a Prosecutor’s Office source.
Central America
El Salvador and Chile Mark 150 Years of Relations With Expanded Bilateral Cooperation
El Salvador and Chile are strengthening their diplomatic and cooperation ties through the official visit of Salvadoran Deputy Foreign Minister Adriana Mira to the South American country.
The purpose of the visit is to expand economic exchanges, promote new cooperation opportunities, and strengthen the bonds of friendship between both nations, according to El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry.
During her visit, Mira held a meeting with her Chilean counterpart, Patricio Torres, where they discussed issues of common interest and actions aimed at further advancing bilateral relations.
The agenda included initiatives to promote trade, encourage investment in strategic sectors, and strengthen joint efforts in different areas of cooperation.
As part of this process, both countries are preparing the 5th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Technical and Scientific Cooperation, where they are expected to establish a new framework for bilateral collaboration aimed at creating mutual benefits.
The meeting also carried a historic significance, as El Salvador and Chile are commemorating 150 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
Representatives from both governments highlighted the importance of continuing to deepen their ties of friendship and cooperation to support shared development goals.
El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the relationship between both countries seeks to advance greater economic, commercial, and technical integration while taking advantage of new opportunities for collaboration.
International
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes History as First Player to Score in Six World Cups
Cristiano Ronaldo made football history on Tuesday by becoming the first player ever to score in six different editions of the FIFA World Cup.
The Portuguese forward opened the scoring in Portugal’s Group K match against Uzbekistan in Houston. Just six minutes into the game, Ronaldo found the back of the net with a right-footed strike from inside the box, sending the Portuguese fans into celebration.
The “Commander” sparked excitement throughout the stadium with his iconic celebration, as supporters joined in with his famous “Siuuu!” chant to honor another milestone in the career of one of football’s greatest stars.
At 41 years old, Ronaldo has now scored in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and North America 2026. With his two goals in this tournament, he has surpassed Lionel Messi’s record, as the Argentine has scored in every World Cup he played except South Africa 2010.
The Portuguese captain has also reached nine World Cup goals, matching Eusébio as Portugal’s all-time top scorer in the history of the tournament.
Ronaldo’s achievement came just one day after Messi also made history by becoming the outright leading scorer in World Cup history, reaching 18 goals after scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria.
With his appearance at the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has also extended another remarkable record by becoming the first player to participate in six consecutive editions of the tournament, further cementing his legacy as one of the most influential players in football history.
Central America
Costa Rica Launches Largest Police Operation in History, Dismantles Major Drug Cartel
Costa Rican judicial authorities on Tuesday announced the largest police operation in the country’s history, resulting in the dismantling of a major local drug trafficking organization allegedly led by a man who was extradited to the United States earlier this year.
More than 1,500 law enforcement officers carried out 97 raids across different regions of the country, targeting 41 suspects and seizing assets valued at nearly $22 million, according to Michael Soto, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).
Speaking in a video statement, Soto described the operation as unprecedented in scale and coordination.
“This is the largest operation we have ever conducted. Never before have we carried out so many raids with our officers working alongside prosecutors from the Public Ministry and security forces from the Executive Branch. It is historic,” Soto said.
The operation, dubbed “Riverside,” was the result of months of investigations conducted with support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Authorities said the large-scale crackdown dismantled one of the country’s most significant criminal organizations involved in international drug trafficking, a major contributor to the security crisis affecting the Central American nation, long known for its stability and tourism industry.
According to investigators, the operation focused on uncovering the multimillion-dollar business activities of a Costa Rican criminal network allied with a Colombian group known as “Los Costeños.”
The alleged leader of the organization was identified as Edwin Pérez, also known as “Pecho de Rata,” who was extradited to the United States on March 20 alongside former Security Minister and former Supreme Court magistrate Celso Gamboa.
Both men were arrested on June 23, 2025, shortly after a legislative reform came into effect allowing Costa Rican citizens suspected of drug trafficking to be extradited to foreign jurisdictions.
Among those detained during the operation were two prison officers, two former professional football players and a model. Prosecutors indicated that the suspects could face charges including domestic and international drug trafficking, arms trafficking, possession of explosives, smuggling drugs into correctional facilities, money laundering and participation in organized criminal activities.
Authorities stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional arrests and asset seizures could follow as prosecutors continue to examine the network’s operations and financial structure.
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