All 158 volunteers currently serving in Honduras will be placed on administrative leave . Summer classes for new volunteers are canceled for El Salvador and Guatemala . Drug cartels use the region as a strategic way station between South America , where most of the world 's coca is grown , and North America , a major cocaine market . Peace Corps has operated in Honduras since 1978 . Homicide rates there more than doubled between 2007 and 2009 .
All 158 volunteers currently serving in Honduras will be placed on administrative leave . Summer classes for new volunteers are canceled for El Salvador and Guatemala . Peace Corps has operated in Honduras since 1978 . Homicide rates there more than doubled between 2007 and 2009 .