The former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, sentenced to 45 years in prison in New York for drug trafficking after being extradited, expressed his disagreement with the decision of Xiomara Castro's government to end the extradition treaty with the United States.
In response to this measure, Hernández called the elimination of the bilateral treaty a "setback" in the fight against organized crime. He believes that extradition is a fundamental tool in international cooperation to combat drug trafficking and other crimes, emphasizing that its use should be fair and not political.
The former Honduran president stated that extradition, approved and implemented during his administration, was a measure that positively changed the fight against organized crime in the country. Hernández argues that the cancellation of the treaty with the United States constitutes an injustice, as it deprived him of the opportunity to defend himself against the accusations against him.
Hernández pointed out that the extradition of Hondurans requested by the United States, mainly for drug-related offenses, has been a common practice in the country. He highlighted that cooperation with the United States in this area has been essential and that the termination of the treaty negatively affects efforts to maintain security and peace in Honduras.
The former president described the approval of extradition as a necessary milestone for the restoration of peace in Honduras and as a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking. He insisted that during his administration, policies were implemented that weakened drug traffickers and that extradition was a fundamental part of this strategy.