Am铆lcar Alexander "Chande" Ard贸n, former mayor of El Para铆so, Cop谩n, was arrested in Honduras on April 7, 2025, after deportation from the United States. He served a sentence for drug trafficking and provided key testimony in the trials of Juan Orlando Hern谩ndez and his brother.
Honduran authorities, along with Interpol, the DPI, and the MP, executed an outstanding arrest warrant. Ard贸n is being investigated for money laundering in Honduras due to his testimony in the US court case.
In the US, Ard贸n was convicted of trafficking over 250 tons of cocaine. He was a major drug trafficker in western Honduras, operating with his brother as the "Cartel de los hermanos AA" in Cop谩n and Ocotepeque. He admitted to collecting a tax on every kilo of cocaine transported through his region while mayor (2000-2015).
Ard贸n surrendered to the DEA in 2018 and cooperated with the prosecution of the Hern谩ndez brothers. Despite his cooperation, he received a sentence of time served plus ten years of supervised release; the judge acknowledged his crimes, including drug trafficking and murders.
Several of Ard贸n's properties were seized by Honduran authorities. His arrest highlights the ongoing investigation and prosecution of individuals involved in drug trafficking in Honduras and its connection to high-profile politicians.