The former president of Honduras was accused of "drug trafficking" by the United States: he was arrested at home and went out with chains on his hands and feet

　　Overseas Network, February 16. According to the Honduran "News" report on the 15th, on the 15th local time, former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez was arrested at his home in the capital.

The United States charged him with three drug-related crimes, and on the 14th formally filed a request for his arrest and extradition to the United States.

　　According to reports, 20 days after former President Hernandez ended his second term, the U.S. Embassy in Honduras proposed on the 14th to "temporarily arrest a Honduran politician for the purpose of extradition."

Honduras Supreme Court-appointed Justice Edwin Ortes issued a warrant for Hernandez's arrest on the 15th, under the direction of Security Minister Ramon Sabillon.

Hernandez was arrested at his home that day.

He walked out of his home in an exclusive residential area in eastern Tegucigalpa, wearing a body armor and chains on his hands and feet, and was taken by the contingent to the National Police.

　　Hundreds of police and military personnel set up security precautions to prevent Hernandez from escaping after the U.S. made a formal arrest request on Tuesday.

Hernandez said earlier on the 15th that he is ready to cooperate with the investigation department and will defend himself.

The United States charged Hernandez with three counts, including "introducing the unlawful introduction of a controlled substance into the United States," "participating in the production and distribution of a controlled substance," and "using or facilitating the use of a firearm in support of drug trafficking."

The US embassy said that since 2004, 500,000 kilograms of cocaine had been shipped from Honduras to the US.

　　According to a source, Hernandez will appear at the hearing at about 10:30 a.m. local time on the 16th.

It is unclear whether Hernandez will be extradited to the United States, and the process could take nearly three months.

Hernandez is the second former president of Honduras to be extradited to the United States for trial.

In 2016, former president Rafael Callejas was indicted by the United States for alleged corruption during his tenure as president of the Honduran Football Federation.

(Wang Xiaoyu from Overseas Network)