The home of Juan Orlando Hernandez had been surrounded by around 600 police since Monday evening, when Washington’s extradition request was sent to Honduran justice.
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez (2014-2022), targeted by an arrest warrant after an extradition request from the United States where he is accused of drug trafficking, surrendered on Tuesday, February 15, to the police in Tegucigalpa. Dressed in blue, the former head of state came out of his residence, located in the Honduran capital. He was immediately fitted with a bulletproof vest and chained at the wrists and ankles by the police to be brought before a judge, noted an AFP photographer.
“I am ready and willing to collaborate”
Mr. Hernandez’s home had been surrounded by about 600 police since Monday evening, when Washington’s extradition request was sent to Honduran justice. Shortly before, a judge of the Supreme Court of Honduras had issued an arrest warrant against the former head of state. The judge was tasked with “deciding whether to issue an arrest warrant, and one has been issued,” Supreme Court spokesman Melvin Duarte told a news conference.
“I am ready and willing to collaborate and surrender voluntarily” to meet “the judge who will be appointed by the Honorable Supreme Court so that I can deal with this situation and defend myself”, had indicated in the morning the former president in an audio message.
Mr. Hernandez, 53, usually referred to by his initials JOH, left power after two terms at the head of Honduras since 2014. He was replaced on January 27 as president by his left-wing rival, Xiomara Castro. His younger brother and former deputy, Antonio “Tony” Hernandez, was sentenced in March 2021 in the United States to life in prison for drug trafficking. New York prosecutors suspect JOH of being his accomplice.
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