Employees of the Israeli embassy in Bogotá facilitated the passage in a diplomatic suitcase of approximately 150 million dollars originating from the trafficking of cocaine between Colombia and Honduras, a witness testified yesterday Monday at the trial in New York of Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is accused of drug trafficking.
A former member of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, Luis Perez, who is portrayed by some media as Colombian, whose real name is Alejandro Monroy Murillo, testified under oath in court that he secured the collusion “employees of the Israeli embassy in Colombia with diplomatic passports”.
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He confirmed that he personally sent $2.4 million in 2013 to be spent on the campaign of Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was then a candidate for the presidency of Honduras. He held the highest office in the Central American state from 2014 to 2022.
The former head of state, who claims to be innocent and a victim of fraud, was extradited to the US in 2022, immediately after his term ended; US federal authorities accuse him of facilitating the trafficking of 500 tons of cocaine in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes.
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, center, is handcuffed to a waiting plane as he is extradited to the United States, at an air base in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Thursday, April 21, 2022. The Honduran Supreme Court approved Hernandez’s extradition to the United States to face drug and arms trafficking charges. (AP Photo/Elmer Martinez)
Mr. Peres recounted that between 2008 and 2010, based on what he remembers, an employee at the Israeli embassy allowed “about 150 million dollars” to be transported in the diplomatic suitcase. He explained that he was paying a 3% commission for these amounts to be delivered safely.
He was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison, a sentence that was reduced to 6 years, he is now free. He was surrendered in 2015 in Belize to DEA agents, the US federal drug enforcement agency.
Read also: USA: The brother of the Honduran president was arrested for drug smuggling
Luis Perez also testified that among the go-betweens was an official at the port of Puerto Cortes, Honduras’ main sea gateway, who was put in touch by Fabio Lobo, the son of former President Porfirio Lobo — Mr. Hernandez’s predecessor.
Fabio Lobo was sentenced in 2017 by a New York court to serve 24 years in prison for his involvement in drug trafficking.
The porter wanted assurances that he would stay in his job or get a promotion, and in return he promised to “guarantee the security of containers carrying cocaine,” according to Mr. Peres’ testimony.
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