"San Pedro Sula was the "murder capital of the world"until early 2016 when
Caracas, Venezuelasurpassed its homicide rate.Since the
2009 Honduran military coup"unemployment and underemployment rates have doubled while the number of people living in extreme poverty has skyrocketed." In 2013, the city had 187 homicides per 100,000 residents. In 2013, the city had 187 homicides per 100,000 residents.
[12] This surpassed
Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico's rate of 148 killings per 100,000, or an average of about three homicides per day;
[9] Ciudad Juarez had previously topped the list for three consecutive years.
[13][14] Both cities are major operational and strategic distribution points in the
illegal drug trade, particularly
to the United States, and have significant gang activity.
[7][13][15][16] In response, authorities launched Operation Lightning, saturating violence hotspots with police and soldiers.
[9] Meanwhile,
arms trafficking has flooded the country, with just under 70% of all firearms being illegal. 83% of homicides in the city involve firearms.
[8]"
