meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
From Our Own Correspondent

Tackling the Cocaine Trade in Honduras

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 April 2022

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez was voted out of power in January, and within weeks was arrested, accused of being part of a major international drugs ring. This month, Mr Hernandez was extradited to the US, where he will face charges of drug trafficking and money laundering - charges he denies. Meanwhile, back in Honduras, police say they are now trying to destroy the drug industry, and invited our correspondent Will Grant along to show how. A British man was killed this week while fighting in Ukraine, emphasising the international aspect of the crisis. Thousands of foreigners have travelled to Ukraine to take up arms, encouraged by the country’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky. But why would someone travel to a distant country, to fight in towns and cities they may have struggled to find on a map? Hugh Barnes found a wide variety of reasons - and people - who have answered the call. Across Ukraine, there are reminders of the warm relationship the country once had with its neighbour, Russia. The southern city of Odessa had a particular closeness, many of its population being native Russian speakers. But Odessa has been hit by Russian missiles, and with significant civilian casualties. Jen Stout tried to find out what local attitudes are now. One of the tragedies of climate change is that those who will suffer worst from its consequences are often those who played little role in causing it - he West African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe is particularly exposed, a poor place made poorer still by environmental damage. Now it may have a chance to alleviate some of that poverty, by selling the oil which some believe lies under its ocean. Yet it is burning oil which has caused the country's climate problems in the first place, presenting a dilemma which Tamasine Forde witnessed first hand. As Emmanuel Macron savours victory in the French election, some will be putting it down in part to the studied attempt to change his image and look more casual. Often depicted as stuck up and aloof, Monsieur Macron appeared in a much-publicised, and indeed much-mocked photograph, with no jacket and an open-neck shirt. However, while the re-elected President may have swapped his tie for tufts of very-visible chest hair, the same cannot be said of his staff. Indeed, the 'Macronistas' seem keen to preserve France’s international reputation for sartorial suaveness. Our correspondent, Hugh Schofield, found himself wondering whether he should follow their lead.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts

0:05.2

Today we hear about Honduras and the man who went from being president to prisoner in

0:10.6

a matter of weeks. In Ukraine there certainly were people who felt more loyalty to Moscow

0:16.8

than to their own government, but what are they feeling now? And what's motivated thousands

0:22.3

of foreigners to fight for the Ukrainian armed forces? There's an environmental dilemma

0:28.4

for the West African island nation of South Humei and Principé, whether to carry on

0:33.8

searching for oil when climate change is already costing its people their land and their livelihoods.

0:41.1

Under crucial issue from the French election, which you may have missed, what should a

0:45.5

journalist who covers the campaign be wearing? First, it's rarely easy to fall from power.

0:53.1

One moment you're a president or prime minister. The next, just an ordinary citizen with the

0:57.9

trappings of office are quickly receiving memory. But that said, the former president of Honduras

1:03.8

would probably settle quite happily for being an ordinary citizen right now. Juan Orlando

1:09.9

Hernandez was voted out of power in January and within weeks was arrested, accused of being

1:16.1

part of a major international drugs ring. This month Mr. Hernandez was extradited to the

1:21.9

U.S., where he'll face charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, charges the former president

1:28.3

denies. Meanwhile, back in Honduras, police say they're now busy breaking up the extensive

1:34.9

drug industry, Mr. Hernandez left behind, and they invited our correspondent Will Grant

1:40.7

along to prove it. As I sat in a hot bath into Gussie Gelper pulling ticks from my feet

1:47.4

and ankles, I reflected on one of the stranger days I've had at work. It began in the coastal

1:53.5

town of El Sabre at a cheap motel at four in the morning. In fairness to the modest lodgings

1:59.5

that wasn't where the ticks got me, those would come later. Rather, in the pre-dawn darkness,

2:06.1

we joined a unit of the DNPA, the Honduran anti-drug police, led by Captain Jose Cruz, stocky

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.