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Honduras extradited former President Juan Orlando Hern谩ndez to the United States on Thursday to face drug trafficking and weapons charges in a dramatic reversal for a leader once touted by U.S. authorities as a key ally in the war on the drugs.

Just three months after leaving office, a handcuffed Mr. Hern谩ndez boarded an airplane with agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration bound for the United States, where he faces charges in the Southern District of New York.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Mr. Hern谩ndez 鈥渁bused his position as President of Honduras from 2014 through 2022 to operate the country as a narco-state.鈥�

In court documents, U.S. prosecutors alleged Mr. Hern谩ndez was involved in a 鈥渃orrupt and violent drug-trafficking conspiracy鈥� that moved more than 550 tons of cocaine to the United States. He was charged with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

Prosecutors charge that Mr. Hern谩ndez received millions of dollars from drug cartels, including from notorious Mexican drug lord Joaqu铆n 鈥淓l Chapo鈥� Guzm谩n. They allege he used the money to finance his political campaigns and engaged in voter fraud in the 2013 and 2017 Honduran presidential elections.

鈥淚n return, drug traffickers in Honduras were allowed to operate with virtual impunity,鈥� Mr. Garland said. 鈥淲e allege that Hern谩ndez corrupted legitimate public institutions in the country 鈥� including parts of the national police, military, and national Congress.鈥�

Mr. Hern谩ndez was arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa in February at the request of U.S. authorities. He was shackled and paraded in front of journalists, a sight many Hondurans never imagined seeing.

Honduras鈥� Supreme Court rejected his appeal of a judge鈥檚 decision in favor of extradition.

鈥淒rug trafficking fuels violent crime and addiction; it devastates families, and it ravages communities,鈥� Mr. Garland said. 鈥淭he Justice Department is committed to disrupting the entire ecosystem of drug trafficking networks that harm the American people, no matter how far or how high we must go.鈥�

Mr. Hern谩ndez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In a video message released Thursday, he said, 鈥淚 am innocent; I have been and I am being unjustly subjected to prosecution.鈥�

He has said he is the victim of drug traffickers he extradited who are now lying to seek revenge.

Henry Osorto Canales, a retired National Police commissioner who is now an analyst, said that while the extradition was an embarrassment for Honduras, it was also a historic day.

鈥淭his is a start because it has begun with the largest political piece that the country had and logically the rest of the pieces are going to fall, at least those closest [to Hern谩ndez],鈥� Mr.聽Osorto聽said.

U.S. prosecutors have spent years building cases from low-level drug traffickers and local politicians to organized crime bosses who used their political connections and ties to drug trafficking cartels in Colombia and Mexico to move tons of cocaine to the U.S. Many of them testified about making payments to Mr. Hern谩ndez or one of his brothers, also a politician.

Mr. Hern谩ndez鈥檚 brother Tony Hern谩ndez, a former congressman, was sentenced to life in prison in the same U.S. court on essentially the same charges.

Juan Orlando Hern谩ndez took office in January 2014 and held the presidency until this January, when Xiomara Castro was sworn in as his replacement. Mr. Castro campaigned on rooting out Honduras鈥� corruption and Mr. Hern谩ndez was seen as the largest target.

On Wednesday, Honduras鈥� Supreme Court denied an appeal from the former chief of the National Police, Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares, better known as 鈥淓l Tigre鈥� or 鈥淭he Tiger.鈥� He was arrested after Mr. Hern谩ndez at the request of U.S. prosecutors on similar charges and is expected to be extradited in the coming weeks.

U.S. prosecutors allege Mr. Bonilla assisted the movement of tons of cocaine through Honduras, working with Mr. Hern谩ndez and his brother Tony Hern谩ndez, both co-conspirators in the case in the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Hern谩ndez鈥檚 transport via helicopter under heavy guard from the police base where he was held to the airport Thursday was covered live by local television outlets.

Some Hondurans stood outside the airport鈥檚 perimeter fence to catch a glimpse of the former president boarding the plane with U.S. authorities. When Mr. Hern谩ndez鈥檚 plane took off some were seen jumping in celebration.

Thousands of their countrymen emigrated from the country during Mr. Hern谩ndez鈥檚 administration, often shouting 鈥淕et out JOH!鈥� using his initials as they walked north. They frequently complained of a lack of job opportunities and gang violence.

This story was reported by The聽Associated Press.聽Michael Balsamo reported from Washington. AP writer Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed to this report.