Honduras burns 400 pounds of cannabis seized from 'El Diablo' suspect
Honduras's police investigation directorate (DPI) burned more than 400 pounds (about 181 kg) of marijuana in Tegucigalpa on 30 October 2026, eight days after seizing it in Marale from a suspect it calls 'El Colocho' of the 'El Diablo' cartel. The man arrested with the load and an AR-15 rifle remains in custody.
On 22 October 2026, agents of the Criminal Investigation Directorate (DPI), from departmental
criminal investigation unit UDIC-8, arrested José del Socorro Ávila Escobar in a mountainous area
of Marale municipality, Francisco Morazán department, after surveillance in the sector.[1][2]
They seized roughly 300 pounds of suspected dry cannabis in about 15 to 18 sacks and an AR-15 assault
rifle without a serial number.[1][2]Police said the drugs would be counted and tested to confirm
weight and substance.[1][2]
Ávila Escobar was handed to prosecutors on preliminary aggravated drug-trafficking charges affecting
public health; the weapon would be investigated separately.[1][2]Reports did not name any
accomplices.[1][2]
Police announced that the DPI had burned more than 400 pounds of marijuana seized from the ‘Cartel del Diablo’ in the capital.[3][4]The load had been seized on 22 October 2026 during a police operation in Marale, Francisco Morazán.[5]The destruction took place at the Military Police complex in Las Casitas, Tegucigalpa, with prosecutors, the ARSA health regulator and the fire service taking part.[5]Police said the load was taken from a suspect known as ‘El Colocho’, a suspected member of the ‘El Diablo’ cartel.[5]A man remained in custody in the case, CHTV reported.[6]
The destruction was carried out under strict security protocols and in accordance with the country’s current law.[4]
Photos and video
Police photograph issued with the statement on the 30 October 2026 incineration at the PMOP complex in Las Casitas, Tegucigalpa. Photo: Policía Nacional de HondurasPhoto details
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Arrested
1
Charged
1
Cannabis
181.4 kg
Agency type
Military, Police, Prosecutor
Cannabis
Herbal cannabis (181.4 kg)
Activity
Trafficking
Case stage
Under investigation
Sources
La Tribunalatribuna.hnESCapturan a hombre con 300 libras de supuesta marihuana y un fusil AR-15
El País Honduraselpais.hnESCapturan a sospechoso con 300 libras de supuesta marihuana y un fusil AR-15 en Marale
Policía Nacional de Hondurasfacebook.comES#LaPatrullaGráfica | Más de 400 libras de marihuana decomisadas al "Cartel del Diablo" son incineradas por la DPI en la capital
CHTVchtv.hnESINCINERAN MÁS DE 400 LIBRAS DE MARIHUANA DECOMISADAS A INTEGRANTE DEL CÁRTEL «EL DIABLO»
Open questions the AI reported
Sources gave 15 to 18 sacks and an approximate 300-pound total still pending official weighing and lab confirmation.
kg_seized uses 136.1 kg converted from 300 lb; reports did not state metric weight.
No operation photographs were recovered from the opened articles.
Police announced only 'more than 400 pounds' at the destruction; reports at the arrest had put the load at about 300 pounds, and one outlet said about 1,000.
The police statement identifies the suspect only by the alias 'El Colocho'; it does not give his name.
The same incineration also destroyed 46 kilograms of cocaine from other operations, a separate matter not covered here.
No court outcome in the case was reported beyond the prosecutor's filing.
DNPA and DNPSC officers seized 131 pounds of suspected marijuana and the transport vehicle on 22 October 2026 at La Bolsa in Tocoa, Colón, during Plan Operativo Escudo. FESCCO in La Ceiba took the case; no arrests were reported.
Honduran anti-drug police raided a property in Comayagua under a judicial order and arrested one man. The search found 45 wraps of suspected marijuana besides 299 wraps of suspected cocaine, phones, cash and a video recorder.
On 19 September 2026 DNPA anti-drug officers in Puerto Cortés, Cortés, searched a minibus and found 28 bales with 1,300 pounds of suspected marijuana, valued preliminarily above 10 million lempiras. They detained three men aged 29, 55 and 68 for aggravated drug trafficking.
Honduran National Police said meticulous investigation and intelligence work led to the seizure of 498 packages of marijuana bound for Tegucigalpa. The drugs were moved to the capital to continue the investigation; the announcement gives no weight, seizure location, arrests or court outcome.
