Honduran National Police Director Ramon Sabillon stated that the rights of Police Chief Constantino Zavala suspended for his alleged trafficking of marijuana plants and weapons would be honored. In the mean time he has been suspended and a full investigation is under way.

Constantino Zavala will be subjected to “an investigation” to determine his responsibility in this case, Sabillon told reporters.

“He will have to turn in his badge and his weapon. He will not be able to perform police functions until his investigation is completed,” the police chief said, adding that Zavala would face a “criminal trial” in this case.

Police arrested Honduran citizen Jester Miranda and Colombian Ruben Pinilla last Friday and seized from them some 3,000 pot plants and a number of firearms in the village of La Cumbre, the Security Secretariat said in a statement.

Authorities also reported that they are investigating the existence of a lab allegedly used to process the marijuana, although so far they have released no additional details.

Honduras is used as a bridge by South American drug traffickers who send drug shipments, especially cocaine, to the United States, although part of some of those shipments remains in the Central American country.