Photo shared by CNTC on social media of Black Mamba Sandcat armoured vehicle at eviction of ‘9 de Febrero’ community.
The U.S. International Trade Commission notes: “Major exporters of security equipment to Honduras are Israel, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States.” In 2019, Israel was the largest supplier of arms to Honduras.
ContraCorriente has reported: “Israel has been one of Honduras’ most important partners for the purchase of security equipment. Data from the School of the Americas Watch indicate that between 2013 and 2019 alone, during the governments of Juan Orlando Hernández, Honduras bought around 342.8 million dollars (about 8,344 million lempiras) from Israel in war equipment and espionage.”
That relationship is likely to continue.
On January 18, 2026, ten days before being sworn in as the president of Honduras, Nasry Asfura flew to Jerusalem to meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu told Asfura: “I look forward to working with your government, both in economic fields and agriculture and technology in any of the areas that I think are laid before us. You should know that as far as Israel is concerned, the sky is the limit.”
Human rights violations
The Database of Israeli Military and Security Export (DIMSE) has noted: “Some units associated with abuse of authority, illegal detentions, homicide, torture, rape, extrajudicial killings and extensive use of force against demonstrators and activists use Israeli rifles (namely Tavor and Galil, surveillance systems, and cyber technologies.”
The article specifies that Tavor rifles are used by the National Anti Maras and Gangs Force (FNAMP) and the Galil rifles by the Military Police for Public Order (PMOP).
The Database also reports: “The Police Directorate of Investigations used [the Israeli company] Cellebrite for 939 phone extractions between 2017-2022. Among others it was used against environmental activists. …Official documents show that at least part of the Cellebrite systems were provided to Honduras by the US Department of State.”
CNTC condemns use of Black Mamba Sandcat armoured vehicles
On April 9, 2026, the National Union of Rural Workers (CNTC) condemned the eviction of the ‘7 de Febrero’ farming community.
The CNTC statement further notes: “We condemn the excessive military and police deployment, including the use of ‘Black Mamba’ armoured combat vehicles, which were used against humble families, treating them as if they were ‘terrorists’ or highly dangerous criminals.”
ContraCorriente has reported: “In 2023, a delegation of senior commanders of the Honduran National Police traveled to Israel to finalize the acquisition of technological security equipment, including 15 Black Mamba Sandcat armored vehicles for use in high-impact operations.”
It then notes: “[Honduran Security Minister Gustavo] Sánchez also did not specify where they were purchased; however, Israel’s ambassador to Honduras announced that he had been part of a collaboration with his government.”
And it explains: “The Mexican companies Transportadora de Protección y Seguridad (TPS Armoring) and Epel Tácticos obtained the license [from the U.S.-based company Oshkosh] to manufacture versions of the security equipment in their territory, including the Black Mamba Sandcat model, and it was precisely the company TPS Armoring that sold the equipment to Honduras.”
In February 2024, the Rio Times reported: “The Black Mambas are a joint effort by Mexican companies TPS Armoring and Epel Tácticos. …These vehicles, adapted from an Israeli design, signify how global technology can be tailored to local needs.”
And in June 2024, Proceso Digital explained: “The Honduran government bought 10 Black Mamba, six of which arrived in the country, the payments were made against delivery to an Israeli company that assembled them in Mexico.”
That article adds: “Each Black Mamba Sandcat cost Honduras a total of 13,052,500 lempiras ($526,573). The Black Mamba Sandcat or ‘Police Armadillo’ vehicles have modern security systems, weigh 8.2 tons, have state-of-the-art technology and spaces for 13 special forces agents with specialized drivers. The APC vehicle is part of a family of armored vehicles called Black Mamba and are the result of a partnership between two Mexican armor companies, TPS Armoring and Epel Tácticos, which developed a version for Mexican security needs based on the successful Israeli Sandcat.”
Arms fairs
ContraCorriente also reports: “The [Israeli ambassador to Honduras explained that] at the end of 2022, a high-level delegation attended a security technology fair [in Israel] where they chose security equipment [including] the Black Mambas.”
This could refer to Israel’s Defense Exposition (ISDEF) or perhaps more likely given the timing (late 2022), the Defense Tech Expo.
In April 2022, +972 Magazine reported: “ISDEF, the largest defense and homeland security trade show in the country, takes place every other year at Expo Tel Aviv. The most recent edition, hosted between March 21 and 23, drew 12,000 visitors from 90 countries around the world; most of them were representatives of private technology firms, police agencies, and militaries.”
DSEI
The United Kingdom-based Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has explained that the International Defense Cooperation Directorate of the Israel Ministry of Defense (SIBAT) promotes Israeli arms exports around the world. CAAT adds that SIBAT regularly attends arms fairs around the world including DSEI in the UK.
CANSEC
The Canadian Association of Defense and Security Industries, the organizer of the annual CANSEC arms show, has noted that Israel will be one of the 60+ international delegations at CANSEC this coming May 27-28 in Ottawa.
It is further believed that SIBAT will be present.
Accompaniment
On March 3, 2026, PBI-Honduras, PBI-Canada coordinator Brent Patterson met with Franklin Almendares, General Secretary, and Rosa Santamaría, member of the National Board of Directors, of the CNTC at their office in Tegucigalpa.
As we told the CNTC at that time, PBI-Canada continues to highlight the role that military equipment and technology has in the repression of human rights defenders and communities.
The CNTC is affiliated with the Unified Confederation of Honduran Workers (CUTH) which in turn is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), along with 150+ labour organizations including the Canadian Labour Congress.
Peace Brigades International has accompanied the CNTC since May 2018.
Additional reading: Israeli arms industry’s “great leap” in Central America (Professor Gabriel Schivone, The Electronic Intifada, March 2019) and What spy firm Cellebrite can’t hide from investors (Access Now, May 2021).
Photo: Black Mamba Sandcat, March 2024.
