"There is much to be done in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, but results will be seen soon," Pascua said in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula. He added that the government lacks the necessary funds to fight both problems.

The Associated Press could not reach Pascua or his spokesman for comment.

Washington has provided Honduras about $15 million in the last four years to combat drug traffickers, which are using the Central American country to ship drugs north.

"Even though the drug traffickers have greater resources than us, we will fight with the little we have to prevent crime from taking over the country," Pascua said.

Mexican drug cartels operate virtually unchecked in Central America as U.S.-supported crackdowns in Mexico and Colombia have pushed traffickers into a region.

A recent Security Ministry report said Mexico's Sinaloa and Zetas drug cartels operate cocaine-trafficking routes in northern and eastern Honduras.