Ex-Honduras president extradited to US

Juan Orlando Hernandez, chained, at the police headquarters in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Tuesday, February 15, 2022. AP - Elmer Martinez

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Barely two months after leaving power, Juan Orlando Hernandez, who now has no recourse, left the country.

The Honduran Supreme Court of Justice has decided so.

American justice accuses him of having transformed his country during the eight years of his presidency into a veritable narco-state.

He continues to proclaim his innocence. 

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According to New York prosecutors, Juan Orlando Hernandez made Honduras one of the main hubs for drug trafficking in Latin America.

Thanks to his protection, cartels from countries like Mexico or Venezuela were able to transport hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States.

In exchange, the former head of state received millions of dollars in bribes.

Money with which Juan Orlando Hernandez financed his electoral campaigns in particular. 

As Honduran head of state, the 53-year-old conservative had nevertheless presented himself as the champion of the fight against drugs.

Under his presidency,

.

In a letter written from prison, Juan Orlando Hernandez once again claimed to be precisely the victim of the revenge of these cartel members who would try to negotiate their sentences in New York by accusing him. 

If found guilty, Juan Orlando Hernandez faces life in prison.

Monday, March 28, in Tegucigalpa, hundreds of people celebrated the announced extradition of the former president as the end of impunity in Honduras.

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• Honduras

• Juan Hernández

• Justice

• United States