The former chief of the Honduran National Police, Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares, also known as “El Tigre” or “The Tiger,” has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to protect shipments of cocaine destined for the United States. The 64-year-old Valladares, who led the police force for a year in 2012, was described by prosecutors as rising to power through enabling cocaine trafficking and using violence, including murder, to safeguard the drug trade.
Prosecutors had sought a 30-year prison term for Valladares, while his defense attorney requested a 10-year sentence, emphasizing that his client had not always been involved in illegal activities and denied any involvement in murders. The defense also highlighted Valladares' health issues and expressed concerns about his safety if he were to return to Honduras after serving his sentence.
