Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, aged 55, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison in the US for an 18-year drug-trafficking conspiracy involving massive cocaine shipments. Prosecutors sought a life sentence to reflect the severity of his crimes. Hernandez, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was found guilty of accepting bribes to protect drug shipments. Despite maintaining his innocence, he faces a minimum of 40 years in prison, with prosecutors emphasizing the role corrupt politicians play in facilitating international drug trafficking and violence.