The former president of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez (2014-2022), targeted by an arrest warrant after an extradition request from the United States where he is accused of drug trafficking, went on Tuesday February 15 to the police in Tegucigalpa. 

Dressed in blue, the former head of state came out of his residence, located in the Honduran capital.

He was immediately fitted with a bulletproof vest and chained at the wrists and ankles by the police to be brought before a judge.

His home had been surrounded by about 600 police since Monday evening, when Washington's extradition request was sent to Honduran justice.

Shortly before, a judge of the Supreme Court of Honduras had issued an arrest warrant against the former head of state.

"I am ready and willing to collaborate and surrender voluntarily" to meet "the judge who will be appointed by the Honorable Supreme Court so that I can deal with this situation and defend myself", had indicated in the morning the former president in an audio message.

His brother sentenced in the United States

Juan Orlando Hernandez, 53, usually referred to by his initials JOH, left power after two terms as head of Honduras since 2014. He was replaced on January 27 as president by his left-wing rival, Xiomara Castro.

His younger brother and former deputy, Antonio "Tony" Hernandez, was sentenced in March 2021 in the United States to life in prison for drug trafficking.

New York prosecutors suspect JOH of being his accomplice.

Dozens of people with banners celebrated in front of the home of Juan Orlando Hernandez the extradition request launched by Washington.

In other cities across the country, residents took to the streets chanting "Juancho is going to New York!", in reference to another nickname of the former president.

"In the nostrils of the gringos"

Another of the former head of state's relatives, Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez, was also sentenced to life last week for drug trafficking by federal court in Manhattan, New York.

During the trial, prosecutors accused JOH of helping the defendant smuggle cocaine into the United States. 

Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez himself claimed during the hearing that President Hernandez told him that they were going to "put the drugs up the nostrils of the gringos".

So far, however, no formal charges have been filed against JOH.

The former head of state rejected all the charges, which he described as "revenge", claiming to have arrested and delivered many drug traffickers to the United States.

In Honduras, JOH is also accused by his political opponents of corruption in the context of infrastructure and supply contracts to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

With AFP

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