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Honduran authorities delivered Cuban-American citizen Jorge Marcelo Manso to the United States this Saturday, wanted by U.S. justice for over 15 years on charges related to cocaine trafficking. The extradition marks the end of a long period of evasion and the beginning of a judicial process that will now take place on U.S. soil.
Manso, 56 years old, was transferred under heavy security from San Pedro Sula to Palmerola International Airport in Comayagua, where he boarded a commercial flight to Houston, Texas, to be made available to the authorities requesting him, reported Honduran police sources cited by La Prensa.
According to that outlet, the Cuban-American had an active Interpol red alert since February 18, 2009, issued by order of Judicial Court Number 11 of Miami-Dade County, Florida, for crimes related to cocaine trafficking. The case dates back to December 2008, when, according to the court file, he allegedly arranged for the delivery of six kilograms of drugs in Miami.
During a search of his home, authorities found over $120,000 in cash and a kilogram of cocaine. After admitting his involvement, he was released on bail, but in 2010 he fled the United States, resulting in a new arrest warrant for evading justice.
The Honduran media Once Noticias confirmed that the extradition was carried out following a formal request from the United States, authorized by the Supreme Court of Justice of Honduras after all legal avenues were exhausted.
The operation was carried out in coordination with international agencies and under strict security measures, as part of the commitments to judicial cooperation and the fight against organized crime undertaken by the Central American country.
For its part, Proceso Digital detailed that agents from the Interpol Unit of the Police Directorate of Investigations (DPI) were responsible for carrying out the final procedures for the delivery of the accused, who resided in the Universidad neighborhood of San Pedro Sula, the same place where he was captured days earlier.
According to reports from Interpol cited by that outlet, Manso allegedly entered Honduras illegally in 2015, remaining in the country until his recent location.
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