Honduras' Ex-Pres. Juan Orlando Hernandez Heads to U.S. to Face Drug Charges

Honduras' former President Juan Orlando Hernandez made his way to the U.S. on Thursday to face the drug charges slammed against him.

According to Al Jazeera, Hernandez is facing three counts of drug and weapons offenses, which were filed by prosecutors from New York. The charges were announced the same day he was escorted on the way to the U.S. to be indicted.

CNN reported that the former president of Honduras was taken from a police special forces prison to an airbase in Tegucigalpa, the country's capital.

Hernandez was reportedly wearing a blue jacket and jeans and was escorted by more than a dozen police officers, a scene that was shown on Honduras' local television.

The former president took off from Toncontin International Airport at around 4:20 p.m. local time. He is expected to land in New York.

U.S. Presses Charges Against Honduras Ex-Pres. Juan Orlando Hernandez

In a remark delivered by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, the former president of Honduras was 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.

CNN specified that the former official of Honduras was slammed with cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

"Hernández abused his position as President of Honduras from 2014 through 2022 to operate the country as a narco-state," Garland said.

Garland also highlighted that the former president allowed the drug traffickers in the country to operate with virtual impunity.

The U.S. official also alleged that Hernandez corrupted legitimate public institutions in the country, including the National Congress, the police, and the military.

Hernandez was also accused of receiving millions of dollars from multiple drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, and worked closely with other public officials to protect cocaine shipments bound to the United States.

Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at a news conference on Thursday that Honduras became one of the most violent countries in the world during Hernandez's tenure as the president.

Williams added that the charges made against Hernandez came after years of investigations made by his office and the DEA.

Honduras Ex-Pres. Juan Orlando Hernandez Denies Involvement With Drug Traffickers

Hernandez repeatedly denied any involvement with drug traffickers, arguing that the allegations against him were made up, according to The Guardian.

"This is revenge from the cartels, it's an orchestrated plot so that no government will confront them again," Hernandez said n a letter.

Juan Orlando Hernandez was arrested at his home on February 15 upon a request from the U.S. government. Last month, the Supreme Court in Honduras authorized the extradition of the former president, per CNN.

Hernandez left his office in January after eight years of being Honduras' president.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges - From TeleSUR English