By Ahmed Abdelsalam
A Mexican judge has been arrested and charged in the United States with accepting $2 million in bribes to release a suspected Canadian drug trafficker, according to U.S. officials announced Thursday.
Bribe Allegations and Release
Luiz Benítez Alcántara, 49, was overseeing extradition proceedings in Mexico in 2024 for Canadian citizen Andrew Clark, who faced U.S. charges for helping run a billion-dollar drug trafficking group allegedly led by former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. Benítez is accused of releasing Clark from custody after receiving the bribe payments. Clark was rearrested days later and transferred to the United States, where he faces drug trafficking and murder charges.
Arrest and Charges
Benítez was arrested Sunday in Colombia and charged in a nine-count indictment with being an accessory after the fact. U.S. officials will request his extradition from Colombia. It was not immediately known if he has legal representation.
Broader Drug Network Investigation
The case is part of a multinational investigation into a drug network allegedly run by Wedding, who was arrested in Mexico earlier this year and pleaded not guilty to murder and drug charges in California. Dozens of people have been arrested, and authorities have seized large quantities of drugs, weapons, cash, vehicles, artwork, and jewelry. U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that corrupt public officials who assist drug traffickers will face justice in the United States.
