Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who for years has been a principal suspect in a transnational drug trafficking conspiracy, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in U.S. federal court.

About a month after his arrest, the Honduras Supreme Court ratified the extradition of former President Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado to the United States where he could face a life sentence if convicted on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

Honduran authorities detained on Tuesday the country’s former President Juan Orlando Hernández at the request of the United States, where he is accused of being a member of a violent drug trafficking network.

The United States introduced visa restrictions against the former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández and included his name into its corruption and undemocratic actors list that now counts 56 individuals.

Honduras’ president blasted claims he was the intended recipient of a bribe from notorious drug trafficker Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman as “less serious than Alice in Wonderland.”

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was investigated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Honduran government confirmed Thursday, without saying whether the probe is still open.

Authorities in the United States have arrested the brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and charged him with drug trafficking, weapons offenses and lying to federal agents, the country’s Drug Enforcement Administration announced on Monday.