Honduras Extradites Alleged Drug Trafficker Ramos to U.S.

Honduran authorities extradited alleged drug trafficker Darwin Orlando Ramos to the United States on Tuesday to face charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine. Ramos, 41, was apprehended in January 2025 in western Honduras and was held at the National Penitentiary near Tegucigalpa before his transfer to Palmerola International Airport for the handover.

According to Honduran officials, Ramos is accused by a Texas prosecutor of two counts of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms of a substance containing detectable amounts of cocaine intended for importation into the U.S. Francisco Omar Herrera, another Honduran wanted by the U.S. for drug trafficking, was also arrested alongside Ramos.

The extradition of Ramos is part of a broader trend, with over 60 Hondurans sent to the U.S. for drug trafficking charges since 2014. Notable extraditions include former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison in June for drug trafficking and weapons offenses, though he was later pardoned by then-U.S. President Donald Trump and now faces domestic charges of fraud and money laundering.

In May 2025, Honduras' Supreme Court of Justice upheld the extradition of seven Honduran citizens, including Ramos, and one Nicaraguan, who were sought by the U.S. and Mexico for crimes related to drug trafficking, continuous sexual abuse, and organized crime. These extraditions underscore Honduras' ongoing cooperation with international efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations.