Merrick Garland

Today, Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, was extradited to the United States to face federal charges.

Lando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, was extradited to the United States to face federal charges.

Hernandez is charged with participating in a corrupt and violent drug trafficking conspiracy to facilitate the importation of tons of cocaine into the United States from 2004 to 2022.

As is charged in the indictment, Hernandez abused his position as president of Honduras from 2014 through 2022 to operate the country as a narco state.

Hernandez is alleged to have received millions of dollars from multiple drug trafficking organizations, including from the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel known as El Chapo.

In return, drug traffickers in Honduras were allowed to operate with virtual impunity.

We allege that Hernandez corrupted legitimate public institutions in the country, including parts of the national police, military, and national Congress.

And we allege that Hernandez worked closely with other public officials to protect cocaine shipments bound for the United States.