Honduras ex-president is said to be part of a criminal organization that is said to have smuggled several hundred tons of cocaine from South America to the United States since 2004.
(Photo: dpa)
Mexico City It is a descent in record time that Juan Orlando Hernández has completed from palace to jail. Honduras former head of state is now in a prison in New York and no longer in the “Palacio José Cecilio del Valle”, the presidential residence in the capital Tegucigalpa, where he held office for eight years and until January 27th.
But last week, the 53-year-old ex-president was extradited from his Central American homeland to the United States with great security efforts and popular approval. Almost three months ago, his counterpart in the United States was Joe Biden. Now only DEA prosecutors and narcotics officers talk to Hernández there.
The US judiciary considers the arch-conservative politician to be a dangerous drug and arms dealer. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Hernandez abused his position as President of Honduras to turn his country into a drug state.
Investigators accuse Hernández of being part of a criminal organization that is said to have smuggled hundreds of tons of cocaine from South America to the United States since 2004. One of his business partners is said to have been the legendary Chapo Guzmán, former head of the Mexican “Sinaloa Cartel”. Along with Mexico, Honduras has been one of the main transhipment centers for Colombian cocaine destined for the USA for years.
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During his years in power, Hernández “teamed with some of the world’s most successful drug dealers to build a corrupt and brutal empire based on the illicit trafficking of tons of cocaine,” the indictment said. The ex-head of state is also accused of using the profits from the smuggling business to finance his election campaigns and of having accepted millions of dollars in bribes during his tenure to protect drug dealers from investigations.
Under Trump, Hernández enjoyed political protection
The indictment and extradition are the result of a trial against Hernández’ younger brother Juan Antonio. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in New York in October 2019 for drug trafficking. The judiciary seized $138.5 million of his assets, which are said to come from the drug business.
The New York prosecutors were already investigating against Juan Orlando Hernández after witnesses had heavily incriminated him. However, the head of state was not charged, which was not only due to his immunity, but also to the high level of political protection. Then-US President Donald Trump was considered a close ally of Hernández.
The extradited man denies all accusations and claims to be the victim of a conspiracy. According to him, the allegations are revenge by drug dealers who were referred to the US judiciary during his tenure. They would have falsely accused him in order to get a reduction in their own sentences.
The swift deportation was facilitated by the election of Xiomara Castro to succeed Hernández. The left-wing politician initiated this immediately after taking office. During the election campaign, she had promised to put an end to her predecessor’s “narco-state”. Hernández was arrested in mid-February.
The path from incumbent to accused in no time at all is a warning to every head of state in Latin America who considers himself unassailable through his power as president. “This case sends a clear message to any foreign ruler corruptly abusing their power to support drug cartels,” said DEA chief Anne Milgram. “Anyone who thinks they can hide behind the power of office is wrong.”
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