On the 20th local time in the United States, Juan Orlando Hernandez, a former ** Honduras**, was tried in New York on suspicion of drug trafficking and possession of illegal **. He was accused of making millions of dollars using drug cartels, which led to the country's transformation into a "drug nation."
If convicted, Hernandez could reportedly face a sentence of up to 40 years to life in prison. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.
For nearly 20 years, Ms. Hernandez has profited handsomely from the drug trade, sometimes working with Mexican drug cartels to channel large quantities of cocaine into the United States, federal prosecutors said. He was charged with refusing to plead guilty, arguing that he had been framed by drug traffickers and political reprisals.
The United States** has long investigated drug trafficking in Honduras and found that Hernandez is one of the largest "umbrellas" among them. Since 2004, he has colluded with drug traffickers to bring large quantities of drugs to the United States. His political status was also supported by drug money, and he was re-elected for two consecutive terms.
Hernandez was once considered an ally of the United States, but was betrayed by the American side after **. He maintained close ties with the United States during his tenure and even had the support of former Trump Trump. However, in 2022, he ** and was extradited to the United States, which shocked the outside world.
Hernandez claimed his innocence and accused the United States of colluding with drug traffickers to deliberately stigmatize him. However, the US side denied this claim and said that Hernandez's attempts to defend themselves were invalid.
The trial has attracted widespread attention, with questions raised about why the United States** is investigating Hernandez and charging him with crimes while maintaining close ties with him. Is there a deeper political deal and collusion of interests behind this?