Crime & Justice
Mexican judge charged in US with taking $2m bribe to release drug suspect
November 6, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Coverage
2 reports · over 2 hours
Luis Benítez Alcántara, arrested in Colombia, is accused of freeing Canadian Andrew Clark from custody in 2025 while overseeing his extradition.
- The US Justice Department said Benítez, 49, was arrested on Sunday in Colombia and faces a nine-count indictment as an accessory after the fact.
- The department accuses Benítez of accepting $2 million to release Clark, who was charged in the US with helping run Ryan Wedding's drug network.
- Clark was arrested days after his release and taken to the United States, where he faces drug trafficking and murder charges.
- US officials said they will request Benítez's extradition from Colombia; Attorney General Todd Blanche said officials who assist drug traffickers will face US justice.