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February 22, 2024

Drug Trafficking Trial of Ex-Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández Starts in New York
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Here in New York, the drug trafficking trial of former Honduran
President Juan Orlando Hernández is underway. Prosecutors accuse
Hernández of ruling Honduras like a "narco-state" as he accepted
millions of dollars in bribes from cocaine traffickers in exchange for
protection. In the months after his presidential term ended in 2022,
Hernández was arrested and then extradited to the U.S. He was a longtime
U.S. ally who received unconditional backing during his eight-year term
despite mounting reports of serious human rights violations and
accusations of corruption and involvement with drug smuggling.


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