US jails ex-Honduras president for 45 years on drugs charges

In New York, a court handed down a 45-year prison sentence to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez on Wednesday for his involvement in trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States.

Demonstrators against Hernandez gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse before the sentencing, displaying signs condemning his criminal actions.

The verdict, which also imposed an $8 million fine, fell short of the life imprisonment sought by prosecutors; however, given Hernandez’s age of 55, it is likely that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

During his presidency from 2014 to 2022, US federal prosecutors accused Hernandez of transforming Honduras into a country dominated by drug trafficking.

Despite this conviction, Hernandez has expressed intentions through his legal representatives to challenge the ruling.

In March, Hernandez was found guilty of orchestrating the transportation of around 500 tons of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela to the United States through Honduras since 2004, a scheme that began prior to his presidency.

Prosecutors alleged that Hernandez utilized the proceeds from drug trafficking to enhance his wealth, support his political campaign, and engage in electoral misconduct during the 2013 and 2017 presidential races.

He was extradited to the United States in 2022 on charges of colluding with drug traffickers in exchange for substantial bribes.

Hernandez is continuing a trend seen among previous Latin American leaders who have been convicted in the United States, such as Manuel Noriega of Panama in 1992 and Alfonso Portillo of Guatemala in 2014.