Former Honduran President Convicted of Aiding Drug Trafficking

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was found guilty of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and two weapons counts in a New York court on Friday. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison and a potential maximum of life. Hernández served two terms as the leader of Honduras, from 2014 until 2022. He was extradited to the United States in 2022 after the completion of his second term in office. Prosecutors allege that Hernández received millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for allowing drug trafficking in Honduras, making it a "narco-state." Hernández denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty in the case. This marks the first time a former head of state has been found guilty of drug trafficking in the United States since Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega was convicted in 1992.