Juan Orlando Hernandez, who faces drug trafficking and firearms charges, has three days to appeal the decision.

Published by Faith Barbara Namagembe at 1040 EAT on Thursday 17/03/2022.

A Honduran judge has authorised the extradition of former President Juan Orlando Hernandez to the United States on drug-trafficking and firearms charges.

The decision was announced on Wednesday on the Twitter account of the Central American country’s judicial authority.

Hernandez, who was arrested in mid-February following the US extradition request, has three days to appeal the judge’s decision, according to a judicial spokesperson.

US authorities say that the right-wing former leader participated in a drug-trafficking scheme between 2004 and 2022.

He is also a cussed  of accepting millions of dollars in bribes to protect drug traffickers from investigation and prosecution, and carrying, using, or aiding and abetting the use of weapons.

Hernandez, who was replaced as president in January by leftist Xiomara castrol has denied any wrongdoing.