In a dramatic twist during the trial of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, a confidential witness made shocking allegations in a New York City courtroom last week. The witness, known by the pseudonym Luis Perez, accused an Israeli embassy in Colombia of participating in a money-laundering scheme linked to the illicit trade of cocaine.

Perez, a convicted drug trafficker affiliated with the Sinaloa cartel, appeared in a United States district court to testify against Hernandez, whom he accused of involvement in drug trafficking operations. However, during cross-examination, Perez disclosed another alleged participant in the scheme, pointing to an unnamed official from the Israeli embassy in Colombia.

According to Perez, the Israeli official, who remains unidentified, was responsible for transporting money from Honduras to Colombia in her luggage, using a diplomatic passport and a diplomatic briefcase. He claimed that this collaboration with the Israeli embassy occurred between 2008 and 2010 and involved the laundering of an estimated $100 million to $150 million.

Perez's allegations regarding the involvement of the Israeli embassy in the money-laundering scheme could not be independently verified, and the embassy officials in Colombia declined to comment on the matter. However, experts have highlighted that these claims bring forth broader questions about Israel's potential role in Latin America and the complex intertwining of governments and drug smuggling in the region.

Hernandez, who served as a conservative president of Honduras, has been charged with participating in a "violent drug-trafficking conspiracy" during his time in office. US prosecutors accuse him of transforming Honduras into a "narco-state" and partnering with notorious narcotics traffickers. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to the drug trafficking and weapons charges he faces.

The defence team has sought to undermine the credibility of witnesses like Perez, arguing that they have ulterior motives and are looking to secure reduced sentences for their own criminal cases.

The allegations of the Israeli embassy's involvement in the money-laundering scheme have triggered discussions about Israel's historical connections to drug networks in Central America. Historian Alexander Avina, with expertise in Mexico and Latin America, pointed to a long-standing relationship between Honduras and Israeli military and arms dealers since the late 1970s. Avina highlighted foreign intervention in Honduras during turbulent times, with Israeli military trainers and advisors supporting the country's security forces in campaigns against leftists and dissidents.

Avina also noted Israel's involvement in neighbouring Guatemala, where it provided weapons, advisors, and logistical support to military regimes. Israeli connections to drug networks in Colombia, including training right-wing paramilitary groups, have also been documented. Avina argued that Israel has played a role in counterinsurgency operations throughout the Americas since the 1970s, with drug trafficking being a part of that dynamic due to collaborations between government forces and narcos.

The close ties between Israel, the United States, and Central America have been maintained in more recent decades, including with Hernandez during his presidency. The former Honduran president, who studied in Israel as part of an international development program, was a key ally in the US's regional "war on drugs." Under his leadership, Honduras was one of the first Latin American countries to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

These shocking allegations involving the Israeli embassy have drawn attention and concern from various quarters. Journalist Cristian Sanchez, attending Hernandez's trial on behalf of the Pro-Honduras Network, emphasized that it revealed the alarming extent of infiltration by drug traffickers into state institutions. Sanchez highlighted the significance of an ex-president facing narco-trafficking charges and the alleged involvement of a diplomat from the Israeli government in Colombia.

As the proceedings in the trial continue, the veracity of Perez's allegations and their potential implications for the broader dynamics of drug-related activities and international connections in Latin America remain subjects of intense scrutiny.