JAKARTA - The United States government has extradited former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, over his alleged involvement in participating in a conspiracy to import cocaine and firearms offences.
Hernandez was the President of Honduras who served from 27 January 2017 to 27 January 2022. The indictment sealed by the US Department of Justice marks a stunning fall for the former Washington ally.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan say Hernandez received millions of dollars from drug trafficking organizations, including from Mexico's former Sinaloa cartel leader, Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, then used the funds to enrich himself and finance his political campaigns.
In exchange, Hernandez and other Honduran officials provided drug traffickers with protection from investigation and arrest, gave them access to law enforcement and military information, and prevented their extradition to the United States, according to an indictment.
"Hernandez abused his position as President of Honduras from 2014 to 2022 to operate the country as a narcotics nation," US Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters in Washington.
"Hernandez is working closely with other public officials to protect cocaine shipments bound for the United States."
Hernandez was a key ally of the United States during the administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, in immigration and anti-narcotics operations. However, US prosecutors revealed in court filings last year that Hernandez, 53, was being investigated as part of a broad investigation into the Honduran drug trade.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has focused on fighting corruption in Central America since taking office in January 2021, with the aim of stemming the influx of migrants from the region to the United States.
Previously, Hernandez's younger brother, Tony Hernandez, a former Honduran congressman, was sentenced to life in prison in the United States in March 2021 after previously being found guilty of drug trafficking charges.
The former president has vehemently denied the accusations, arguing the arrested traffickers smeared him to take revenge against his government and to reduce their sentences.
But he has pledged to cooperate with the authorities, and has described himself as a staunch opponent of the drug trade.
In the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, the handcuffed former president was escorted to the airport by a line of security forces. Around the airport, dozens of people gathered waving the country's blue and white flag to celebrate Hernandez's extradition.
Hernandez departed on a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plane Thursday afternoon, expected to make his first appearance in Manhattan federal court in the coming days.
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"If you turn state power into a ruthless drug-trafficking machine, if you allow violence and murder to thrive at the hands of cartels, then the DEA will stop at nothing to hold you accountable," DEA Administrator Anne Milgram told reporters.
The charges were filed on January 27, the day Hernandez was replaced by leftist Xiomara Castro following his November victory over Nasry Asfura, the candidate for the far-right National Party, but remained sealed until Thursday.
The US Department of Justice generally refrains from indicting incumbent heads of state.
"The new Honduran government wants our help. There is no conflict between us doing this kind of work and having good relations in Latin America," Garland explained.
Honduran police detained Hernandez in mid-February following a US extradition request, according to US Embassy documents seen by Reuters at the time.
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