The verdict marks the first time a former head of state has been found guilty of such charges since Panama's General Manuel Noriega in 1992.

The 55-year-old Hernández was found guilty on three counts of drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison. Throughout the two-week trial, witnesses testified to bribes paid to Hernández's political campaigns, including a significant sum from Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, the infamous former leader of the Sinaloa cartel.

Assistant US attorney Jacob Gutwillig, during closing arguments, accused Hernández of creating a "cocaine superhighway to the United States" through his corrupt activities. However, Hernández defended himself on the stand, highlighting his role in passing anti-crime legislation and cooperation with the US on counternarcotics measures. He dismissed the witnesses as "professional liars."

Prosecutors successfully argued that while Hernández pursued some drug traffickers, he protected others, including his brother, former legislator Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking in the same courthouse in 2019. Gutwillig emphasized how Hernández shielded these individuals and their illicit activities using the full power of the state.

The conviction is a significant victory for the US Drug Enforcement Agency's strategy of targeting public officials linked to drug traffickers. However, it also raises questions about the US government's past collaboration with Hernández, who was once considered a key ally in Central America, particularly by the Trump administration. The former president's cooperation with Washington in countering migration played a role in the US turning a blind eye to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Hernández's rise to power coincided with Honduras' descent into turmoil as drug trafficking routes shifted into the country, causing a rampant increase in violence and making it one of the world's most dangerous nations. He campaigned in 2013 as a hardliner against crime and touted his involvement in passing a constitutional amendment allowing the extradition of Honduran traffickers for the first time. However, it was ultimately his own undoing as evidence emerged that his election victory was fueled by massive bribes from drug traffickers.

Even when implicated in his brother's drug-trafficking trial in 2019, Hernández received recognition from then US President Donald Trump for his assistance in drug control efforts. However, upon assuming office, President Joe Biden distanced himself from Hernández. The former president was arrested in February 2022, just weeks after completing his second term, and subsequently extradited to the US for trial.

This long-awaited trial has captivated Hondurans who are weary of rampant corruption in their country and yearn to see justice served against corrupt politicians. Witnesses throughout the trial outlined a deep-seated symbiotic relationship between traffickers and elected officials in Honduras, exposing a deeply entrenched system of corruption.

The conviction of Hernández not only serves as a warning to other public officials involved in drug trafficking but also brings to light the complex web of international relationships and political dynamics tied to the drug trade.