Honduran police surround house of ex-president after U.S. seeks extradition [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

February 14, 2022
11:20 PM CST
Last Updated an hour ago

By Gustavo Palencia and Marvin Valladares
3 minute read

TEGUCIGALPA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Scores of Honduran police officers on Monday surrounded the house of former president Juan Orlando Hernandez after the United States asked the government to arrest and extradite Washington's key erstwhile ally in the region.

Speculation has been swirling for months that the United States was planning to extradite Hernandez when he left office amid accusations that he colluded with drug traffickers. Leftist leader Xiomara Castro replaced him as president last month.

Washington's request for extradition represents a major about-face by the U.S. government, which saw Hernandez as a vital ally in the volatile Central America region during his eight years in power.

The United States had already placed Hernandez on a blacklist, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken this month said there were credible reports Hernandez "has engaged in significant corruption by committing or facilitating acts of corruption and narco-trafficking".

More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-asks-honduras-extradite-ex-president-hernandez-govt-source-cnn-2022-02-15/