{O/C} Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was extradited to the U.S. on Thursday over drug trafficking and weapons charges.
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A shackled Hernandez, who repeatedly insisted on his innocence, was spotted boarding an airplane bound for the United States, accompanied by agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
It was a dramatic twist as the former leader, who left office just three months ago, was once touted by U.S. authorities as one of America's key allies in the battle against drugs.
U.S. prosecutors alleged in court documents that Hernandez partook in a corrupt and violent drug-trafficking conspiracy that transported over 550 tonnes of cocaine to the U.S. This, in addition to possessing machine guns and destructive devices.
Hernandez is said to have abused his position as Honduras' President from 2014 to 2022 to operate the country as a place rife with drugs.
On top of that is having received millions of dollars from drug cartels, including the infamous cartel boss Joaquin Guzman.
Hernandez had been arrested in February at the behest of U.S. authorities. His extradition follows the rejection of his appeal of an earlier ruling in favour of extradition to the U.S. to face the aforementioned charges.
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