Honduran authorities have detained more than 12,000 Cubans in the last four months, according to an April 11 report by the country's National Migration Institute (INM), quoted by EFE.

In total, more than 16,000 immigrants were intercepted in the Central American nation between January and April of this year for having entered illegally with the aim of reaching the United States.

According to a report by the Honduran institution, 77.2% (12,516) of the immigrants are from Cuba, 6.3% (1,031) from Venezuela, 3% (474) from Ecuador, and 2.7% (445) from Haiti.

The main groups of migrants are followed by 1.5% (249) from Angola, 1% (170) from Senegal, 0.9% (149) from Nicaragua, 0.8% (125) from Brazil, 0.6% (93) from Bangladesh, and 5.9% (962) from other unspecified nationalities, he added.

Honduran police claimed that they have intensified operations in the country's border areas, with the objective of "removing all individuals from circulation" and preventing human trafficking.

Meanwhile, dozens of immigrants remain in eastern Honduras because they have not been able to pay the fine for entering the country irregularly through blind spots or human smugglers who do not always take them to the border with Guatemala.

In recent decades, the Central American country has become a transit point for migrants, especially Cubans and Africans, who pass through Central American countries in an attempt to reach the United States.

The day before, security forces detained some 30 Cubans who were being transported in a bus by an alleged Honduran coyote or human trafficker.

The Caribbean nationals were detained by agents of the National Police Departmental Prevention Unit at a checkpoint in the municipality of Alauca, in El Paraíso department, on the border with Nicaragua, according to a police report.

The 45-year-old Honduran national is accused of being "responsible for the crime of illicit trafficking in persons to the detriment of the security and freedom of 30 Cuban nationals," the report added.

The detainee, from whom a bus, 11,000 lempiras ($452), and $600 were confiscated, will be handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office so that "the process can continue in accordance with the law," said the Honduran police.

All immigrants were taken to an office of the National Migration Institute (INM), where authorities will coordinate their return to their country if the Cubans cannot pay a fine equivalent to $220 for entering Honduras illegally.