Ex-president of Honduras sentenced to 45 years for drug offenses

Former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, has been sentenced to 45 years in a US prison for drug crimes, including conspiring to import cocaine and possessing destructive devices. Prosecutors labeled him as running his country like a “narco-state,” accepting bribes to protect drug traffickers. Despite Hernández’s claims of innocence, the judge called him a “two-faced politician hungry for power.”

During his presidency, Hernández was accused of partnering with drug traffickers to build a violent empire smuggling tons of cocaine to the US. His close ties with the US, receiving millions in anti-narcotics aid, did not shield him from facing federal charges in New York. Despite his denial of allegations and the testimonies against him, Hernández was found guilty and is planning to appeal the conviction.

His conviction adds to the list of Latin American ex-presidents, like Manuel Noriega of Panama and Alfonso Portillo of Guatemala, who have been convicted of drug-related crimes in the US. Hernández’s brother is also serving a life sentence for separate drug charges, highlighting the depth of corruption within the family.