U.S. names current and former Central American officials said to be involved in corruption or drugs

"We cannot expect the people of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to thrive at home while their elected officials are more focused on self-enrichment than serving the public," Rep. Torres said.
North and Central America in 1972
By Alex Nitzberg

The U.S. government has released a list naming more than a dozen current and former officials in the Northern Triangle countries credibly alleged to have been involved in corruption or drug trafficking.

"In the report I requested, which is now public, the U.S. government acknowledges the corruption that Central American authoritarians and their henchmen deny and try to hide," Democratic Rep. Norma J. Torres of California said. "We cannot expect the people of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to thrive at home while their elected officials are more focused on self-enrichment than serving the public."

Several individuals named are presently part of the Honduran National Congress and were indicted in the Arca Abierta MACCIH-investigated corruption case for embezzlement of money from government entities. 

Regarding El Salvador, "Carolina Recinos, current Chief of Cabinet in President Nayib Bukele’s administration, engaged in significant acts of corruption during her term in office," the report said.