After the United States government requested the extradition of the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, on charges of drug trafficking and use of weapons, an operation was successfully carried out by Security Minister Ramón Sabillón and the DEA to capture of Hernández, who must appear before a judge on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

#AméricaNoticias #Honduras
ÚLTIMA HORA| Momento que el ministro de Seguridad, Ramón Sabillón, captura a Juan Orlando Hernández. pic.twitter.com/wCyKiz5uOt

— Radio América HN (@radioamericahn) February 15, 2022

Hernández, who at the time of his arrest was forced to wear handcuffs and a bulletproof vest, was held at the headquarters of the Cobras special force of the Honduran Police. From there, he will be transferred to the Supreme Court of Justice to complete an investigation. A few weeks ago, he was stripped of his visa by the U.S. authorities.

After completing eight years as president of Honduras at the head of an administration that faced constant U.S. ire, “Juancho,” as he is popularly known, will take a trip to New York very soon to answer to the U.S. allegations

Sabillón said the capture of the former president was carried out without incident.

U.S. accusations

Due to the alleged trafficking of at least 500 tons of cocaine through Honduras, which was destined for the United States, the U.S. embassy in Tegucigalpa issued the initial charges against the former president.

Acciones de EE. UU. contra el expresidente hondureño Juan Orlando Hernández por corrupción. https://t.co/Kq9wTS4sZ9

— U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa (@usembassyhn) February 8, 2022

Through a statement from the embassy, he was informed that he faces three charges, including conspiring to import a controlled substance into the United States with “the intention and knowledge that said substance would be illegally imported.”

Charges were also brought for carrying firearms and conspiring to use or carry weapons in support of the “conspiracy to import narcotics.”

For now, Hernández will face the charges without much support from his country. The new president, Xiomara Castro, has been one of Hernández's biggest critics, while dozens of protesters approached Hernández's house before his arrest to celebrate the extradition order.

Through an audio published on his Twitter, Hernández announced his intention to collaborate with the authorities of his country and his willingness to collaborate with justice.

pic.twitter.com/CpvAYN1LyE

— Juan Orlando H. (@JuanOrlandoH) February 15, 2022