SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: A large number of drug traffickers in San Francisco are sending hefty amounts of money to Honduras which has led to a real estate boom in a small farming community north of the country's capital city Tegucigalpa. It has been reported that many of the local young men have made a name for themselves in the Californian city by setting up a lucrative narcotics market.
According to Daily Mail, the town of El Pedernal has undergone a significant change after several extravagant properties sprang up, adorned with the San Francisco 49ers logo and paying tribute to the commercial center's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. A photo reviewed by the media outlet shows a man posing outside a lavish mansion with an eye-catching metal security fence along with a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge combined in the metalwork.
What did the locals say?
Although no official evidence has been found, many locals claimed that a large number of the luxurious new homes constructed in El Pedernal are being purchased with drug money sent home from the Northern Californian city. The San Francisco Chronicle, after conducting research for more than 18 months in the town, reported that some of the dealers running businesses in the city told that they are earning almost $350,000 per year and that San Francisco's policies have made it a safe haven for them to operate their illegal activities.
How much do fentanyl dealers earn?
The media outlet reported one dealer claimed that top dealers can net about $300 to $700 on an average day by selling fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and heroin. According to the DEA, fentanyl is also often mixed into other drugs to increase their potency. However, some high-earning dealers said several factors have affected their earnings in recent times. A veteran dealer said, estimating his daily earnings a few years ago, “maybe $1,000.”
The veteran dealer said the streets are overcrowded with migrant Honduran teens and young men like him. Additionally, fentanyl prices have dropped as well. Only $10 can buy an individual a “point,” or one-tenth of a gram. A 'pinch' costs for $5 and will get typical users high for four to six hours.
The majority of the Honduran street dealers in the Bay Area use a money-wiring service such as MoneyGram to send their earnings to relatives in their homeland. While some dealers claimed that they never made enough money to provide their families with basic necessities, others have been successful in earning more money than most can imagine. One dealer said his family didn’t need his financial assistance, and he has already built a home in Honduras for about $40,000.
Why is it easy to conduct drug business in San Francisco?
San Francisco is known among dealers for providing light sentences if they do get caught in the act. There is also little risk of deportation if they're caught and convicted of drug dealing.
The dramatic tale of El Pedernal
El Pedernal, a sleepy agricultural town of 1,600 residents, is now thriving due to construction works and workers are earning $35 a day, which is four times what a farmer makes. One teacher in El Pedernal told the outlet that he has quit his job as a teacher and has now taken up the job of a metal artist. He now creates customized replicas of Bay Area sports teams for the new houses.
One veteran San Francisco dealer, returning to El Pedernal for a vacation, told the outlet that the three-bedroom home inhabited by his wife and children cost him $150,000, which he earned in five good months of drug sales in the Tenderloin district. "A little boy, 17 years old, he built this house," the dealer said, pointing to a mansion under construction. 'You open the door — beautiful," he added.
Many Hondurans illegally end up in the USA to find work in areas other than drug dealing. According to data published by US Customs and Border Protection, US immigration officials encountered more than half a million people from this region, including 213,023 Hondurans in the last year that ended in September 2022. The shocking figure amounts to 2 percent of the country's population of 10 million. However, more than 200 Honduran migrants have been charged with drug dealing since 2022.
