Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez turns himself in

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The former President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, turned himself in to authorities after a court issued a decision to arrest him, amid calls for the United States to extradite him against allegations of trafficking gangs.

Hernandez, who left office on January 27 after 8 years of presidency, said in a Twitter audio message that  "I am ready to collaborate and to come voluntarily … at the time the judge will decide”. Hernandez noted he was doing so "to confront this situation and defend myself."

Xiomara Castro replaced Hernandez as the first female Honduran president. In November 2021, she won the presidential election, ending a 130-year power struggle between the Libre and the National Parties.

On Monday, a Honduran official confirmed that Washington had requested the extradition of Hernandez, while hundreds of special forces elements surrounded his home. The US alleges that the ex-President faces charges relating to drug trafficking between 2004 and 2022, according to Reuters citing a US embassy document.

Hermes Ramirez, the former president's lawyer, said the police presence around Hernandez's home constituted an infringement of his rights to prevent him from contacting his advisers.

In March 2021, Tony, the brother of the former president and former senator, was sentenced to life in prison in the US after being convicted of drug smuggling.

US Secretary of State Blinken said in a statement last week that "credible" reports say Hernandez "has engaged in significant corruption by committing or facilitating acts of corruption and narco-trafficking, and using the proceeds of illicit activity to facilitate political campaigns."

But Hernandez denies all charges and considers it part of a revenge plot by drug dealers who have been arrested by his government or extradited to the US.