Mexican judge arrested for $2m bribes in drug trafficking case

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 19:09 · Archive

A Mexican judge has been arrested and accused of accepting $2 million in bribes to release a drug trafficking suspect.

A Mexican judge has been arrested in Colombia and accused of accepting $2 million in bribes in exchange for releasing a drug trafficking suspect from custody. Luiz Benítez Alcántara, 49, was overseeing extradition proceedings in Mexico in 2024 for Canadian citizen Andrew Clark, who was charged in the United States with helping to run a billion-dollar drug trafficking group. US officials say Benítez released Clark from custody after accepting the bribe payments. Clark was arrested days after his release and was removed to the United States, where he now faces drug trafficking and murder charges.

Benítez has been charged in a nine-count indictment with being an accessory after the fact. US officials will request his extradition from Colombia. US Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement that 'crooked public officials, no matter where they are, who assist drug traffickers operating here at home will face justice in the United States'.

The arrest is part of a wider investigation into a multinational drug trafficking network allegedly run by Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who became a top FBI fugitive. Wedding was arrested in Mexico earlier this year and flown to California, where he pleaded not guilty to murder and drug charges. Authorities say he moved cocaine from Latin America into the United States and orchestrated several killings. Dozens of people have been arrested in the investigation, and authorities have seized large volumes of drugs, weapons and cash as well as millions of dollars worth of vehicles, motorcycles, artwork and jewellery.

How it is being reported

• Mexican judge arrested and accused in US with taking bribes in international drug trafficking caseA Mexican judge has been arrested and accused of accepting $2 million in bribes in exchange for releasing a suspected Canadian drug trafficker from custody.News4Jax · 5 Nov, 18:31
• Mexican judge arrested and accused in US with taking bribes in international drug trafficking caseA Mexican judge has been arrested and accused of accepting $2 million in bribes in exchange for releasing a suspected Canadian drug trafficker from custody.Clickorlando · 5 Nov, 18:31

In this story: Luiz Benítez Alcántara · Andrew Clark · Ryan Wedding · Todd Blanche · Mexico · Colombia · United States · Canada

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log