Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, also known as JOH, has been convicted by a federal jury in the United States on all counts related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The conviction reveals his involvement in transporting tons of cocaine to the U.S. in collaboration with major drug cartels. Hernández, accused of turning Honduras into a “narco-state,” faces sentencing on June 26.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that the conviction demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks, regardless of how high up they reach. Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration echoed this sentiment, stressing that no one, not even heads of state or cartel leaders, is exempt from accountability.
The case uncovered Hernández’s central role in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy spanning nearly two decades. He leveraged his political power to facilitate cocaine imports into the U.S., receiving millions in drug proceeds to fuel his rise in Honduran politics.
Despite Hernández’s public support for anti-narcotics efforts, he protected and profited from drug traffickers, selectively enforcing extraditions and abusing Honduran institutions to further his criminal enterprise. Several co-conspirators, including his brother and high-ranking police officials, have already been convicted.
Hernández faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for cocaine importation, with additional consecutive terms for weapons-related charges. The investigation, led by the DEA and supported by international cooperation, underscores the commitment to combatting drug trafficking and corruption at all levels.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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