A New York court sentenced former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez to 45 years in prison for his role in trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States.
The sentencing, delivered on Wednesday, also imposed an $8 million fine on Hernandez, who served as president from 2014 to 2022.
The court’s decision, which fell short of the life imprisonment sought by prosecutors, was met with a mix of reactions.
Anti-Hernandez protesters gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse, denouncing the former leader’s actions with placards highlighting his crimes. Despite his age of 55, Hernandez faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life incarcerated.
US federal prosecutors accused Hernandez of transforming Honduras into a “narco-state” during his presidency, facilitating the smuggling of approximately 500 tons of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela to the United States since 2004. This illicit trade allegedly began long before he assumed office.
Furthermore, Hernandez was found guilty of using drug money to finance his political campaigns and enrich himself, along with perpetrating electoral fraud in the 2013 and 2017 Honduran presidential elections.
His extradition to the United States in 2022 was prompted by accusations of aiding drug traffickers in exchange for substantial bribes.
Hernandez’s conviction marks a significant milestone in US-led efforts to hold accountable former Latin American leaders involved in criminal activities. His case draws comparisons to past instances, such as Panama’s Manuel Noriega in 1992 and Guatemala’s Alfonso Portillo in 2014, where former heads of state faced justice in US courts for similar charges.
Despite Hernandez indicating plans to appeal his conviction through his legal team, the sentencing underscores a critical moment in international justice, emphasizing accountability for leaders implicated in organized crime and corruption on a global scale.
