Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Honduran Fredy Marbre Vallejo, who is being prosecuted by the United States for crimes related to money laundering and drug trafficking, was sent to prison on Thursday by order of a judge in Tegucigalpa, a judicial source said.
Vallejo was sentenced to judicial detention after the end of the first extradition hearing for drug trafficking and money laundering, according to the Honduran judiciary.
Wearing a bulletproof vest, the alleged drug trafficker arrived at the Honduran Supreme Court under heavy security measures from the Technical Agency and Criminal Investigation (ATIC) and after the hearing was sent to the First Infantry Battalion, near Tegucigalpa, he added.
Vallejo was captured Wednesday night in a residential area of Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, during an operation by ATIC agents.
The detainee is requested in extradition by the South Florida District Court (Miami) on charges of “conspiracy to commit offenses related to money laundering, conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more than one controlled substance, with the knowledge, intent and reasonable cause to believe that such controlled substance would be illegally imported into the United States. “
In addition, for the “distribution of at least five kilograms of cocaine with the knowledge, intent and having reason to know that it would be imported illegally, “according to the extradition request.
Requested by the United States Court
The judiciary noted that a “means of evacuation hearing” will be held on September 24, in which the judge will decide whether or not to admit the extradition request.
The United States has also requested the extradition of the Honduran Carlos Miguel Cordó, another alleged trafficker who has been detained in a military unit in Tegucigalpa since last July.
Cordon is being asked by the U.S. Court for the East District of the State of Texas, for conspiracy related to the transit and distribution of at least five kilograms or more of cocaine, with the knowledge that it would be imported into this country.
Since 2014, some 23 Hondurans accused of drug trafficking and money laundering are facing trial in the United States, some requested for extradition and others handed over to the authorities in that country.
The extradition of Hondurans at the request of other countries was enabled in 2012 after the approval of a constitutional reform.
Honduras is used as a bridge by South American drug traffickers who send drugs to the United States, mainly cocaine, by air and sea. EFE