Former President of Honduras Charged With Corruption and Collusion With Drug Cartels

Former President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, has been accused of corruption and aiding drug cartels. He now faces sentences ranging from 40 years to life and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial will turn on allegations of Hernandez's collusion with cartels, his receipt of millions in anti-drug aid from the U.S., and claims of mistreatment following his extradition to the U.S.

Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former President of Honduras, once known as a staunch advocate for the fight against drug crime, now stands trial in the United States, charged with corruption and accepting vast sums of money from cartels in exchange for assistance in smuggling drugs and firearms into the USA. The trial began last week.

For more news like this, along with all the latest in legalization, research, and lifestyle, download our free cannabis news app.

U.S. Trial to Determine Fate of Former President

In the United States, a trial is underway to determine whether the former President of Honduras was truly the anti-drug warrior he claimed to be or a puppet of the cartels, whose influences were used to smuggle drugs worth millions of dollars and weapons.

The trial of former President Juan Orlando Hernandez began in New York on Wednesday, when the prosecution presented charges, claiming that Hernandez’s rise to power was financed and driven by powerful cartel syndicates, while the defense argued that the former president is being falsely accused by cartel decision-makers for his firm stance against drug crime.

Accusations and Defense

Hernandez pleaded not guilty to the drug and firearms charges in May 2022. During his tenure, the former President received over 50 million dollars in anti-drug aid from the United States and many millions more in security assistance, according to Reuters. Three months after leaving office, Hernandez was charged with illegal possession of weapons and heard three charges related to conspiracy to traffic drugs. Attorney General Merrick Garland accused Hernandez of using his presidential power to run Honduras as a drug state.

Prosecutor David Robles stated on Wednesday that Hernandez collaborated “hand in hand” with cartels to import several tons of cocaine into the USA, while cooperating with the US federal government from 2014 to 2022.

Defense attorney Renato Stabile argued in court that the testimonies of convicted criminals, influenced by the anti-drug legislation signed by Hernandez during his term, should be ignored by the jury. Stabile argued that all witnesses testifying against Hernandez were seeking personal revenge or were paid by the cartels.

Extradition and Defense in the USA

Hernandez was extradited to the United States in April 2022, charged with accepting millions of dollars from drug cartels with the promise that they would not be arrested. Upon arrival in the USA, defense attorney Raymond Colon reported in court that Hernandez was mistreated in prison, informing that he was kept in solitary confinement and was not allowed to contact his family.

The trial is expected to last for the next two or three weeks. Hernandez faces 40 years to life if convicted on all charges. “This pervasive corruption and massive cocaine trade have cost the people of Honduras,” said Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, shortly after Hernandez’s extradition.

—

(Featured image by Brookings Institution (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in Fakty Konopne, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.

Valerie Harrison

Valerie Harrison is a mom of two who likes reporting about the world of finance. She learned about the value of investing at a young age upon taking over her family's textile business when she was just a teenager. Valerie's passion for writing can be traced back to working with an editorial team at her corporate job, where she spent significant time working on market analysis and stock market predictions. Her portfolio includes real estate funds, government bonds, and equities in emerging markets such as cannabis, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies.