Almost a year has gone by since a video implicated an important person close to the president in drug-related activities, yet the Honduran Attorney General’s Office has not delivered tangible outcomes. The lack of response by the Public Ministry concerning a controversy involving those close to President Xiomara Castro has heightened political tension and increased skepticism about the institutions.
Prosecutor’s office without clear answers in high-profile case
Since September 2024, when a video known as the “narco-video” was released showing Carlos Zelaya, brother of former President Manuel Zelaya and brother-in-law of President Castro, in a meeting with drug traffickers, the Prosecutor’s Office has not issued any formal charges or reported any verifiable progress in the case. In the recording, the interlocutors offer 13 million lempiras to finance the 2013 campaign of LIBRE, the party currently in power.
Después de la filtración, Carlos Zelaya dimitió de su cargo como diputado y secretario del Congreso Nacional. Su hijo, José Manuel Zelaya, quien en ese momento era secretario de defensa, también renunció. Rafael Sarmiento, líder del grupo parlamentario del partido gobernante, igualmente presentó su renuncia. Sin embargo, aparte de estas dimisiones, no se han tomado medidas legales concretas.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has reported that the case is “under review,” with a request for legal assistance from the United States to obtain the complete video and documentation related to previous trials. However, to date, no results of these efforts are known, nor has a public investigation timetable been presented.
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 anti-corruption organizations and opposition sectors, the scandal has called into question the integrity of LIBRE’s political project. Several actors have even demanded the president’s resignation, arguing that the case contradicts her discourse of breaking with the past and fighting against the narco-state.
These positions reflect growing tension in the national political arena, where calls for accountability clash with an institutional response perceived as insufficient. The lack of concrete action by the Public Prosecutor’s Office has fueled the narrative of impunity in cases involving figures close to power.
Institutional erosion in a context of electoral polarization
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 situation influencing the direction of Honduran organizations
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.
