Mexican Judge Arrested Over Alleged $2M Drug Bribe

Mexican judge Luis Benítez Alcántara was arrested in Colombia and faces a nine-count U.S. indictment alleging he accepted a $2 million bribe to grant bail and release Canadian Andrew Clark. U.S. officials describe Clark as an alleged senior figure in an international drug-trafficking network said to be headed by former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. They allege about $2.75 million was transferred through intermediaries to secure Clark’s release, which occurred the same day as the alleged payment in February 2025. Clark was rearrested days later and is in U.S. custody facing drug and murder charges. The United States says it will seek Benítez Alcántara’s extradition. Each charge carries up to 15 years if he is convicted. Benítez Alcántara oversaw extradition proceedings for Clark in 2024. Wedding was arrested in Mexico earlier this year and has pleaded not guilty to U.S. charges. No dispute on the core allegations was found in the record. Unresolved are any extradition outcome and the pending cases against Benítez Alcántara, Clark, and Wedding.