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Mexican judge arrested and accused in US with taking bribes in international drug trafficking case
Compiled Nov 5
What happened
A Mexican judge, Luiz Benítez Alcántara, has been arrested and accused of accepting $2 million in bribes.
The detail
The bribes were allegedly paid in exchange for releasing Canadian citizen Andrew Clark from custody during extradition proceedings in 2024.
The detail
Clark was charged in the U.S. with helping run a drug trafficking group allegedly headed by Ryan Wedding.
The detail
Clark was rearrested days after his release and removed to the United States, where he faces drug trafficking and murder charges.
How it unfolded
2024: Benítez oversees extradition proceedings in Mexico for Andrew Clark. · unspecified: Benítez allegedly accepts $2 million in bribes and releases Clark from custody. · days after release: Clark is rearrested and removed to the United States to face charges. · earlier this year: Ryan Wedding is arrested in Mexico and flown to California, where he pleads not guilty. · Sunday: Benítez is arrested in Colombia. · Thursday: U.S. officials announce the charges against Benítez.
By the numbers
$2 million bribe amount · 49 Benítez's age · nine count indictment · dozens people arrested
Still unresolved
It was not immediately known if Benítez has a lawyer.