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Mexican judge arrested after U.S. charges him of accepting $2M bribe in case linked to former Olympian
Mexican judge Luis Benítez Alcántara was arrested in Colombia after US authorities charged him with nine counts related to helping Canadian drug trafficker Ryan Clark. Prosecutors allege Benítez accepted a $2 million bribe to grant Clark bond and release, making the case significant as an alleged link between a public official and a large transnational cocaine operation.
The indictment says Clark sent about $2.75 million to intermediaries over four months from November 2024, and Benítez received $2 million on 24 February 2025, the day he ordered Clark’s release. Mexican officers arrested Clark again days later and transferred him to US custody. Clark and former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding face separate charges including cocaine trafficking and murder; Benítez could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
In short
- A Mexican judge was arrested in Colombia.
- US prosecutors allege he took a $2 million bribe.
- The case is tied to a transnational cocaine network.
Explained simply
Mexican judges make decisions in criminal cases, including whether someone accused of a crime can be released on bond while proceedings continue. A bribe is a payment alleged to have been made in exchange for an official decision; the claims against Benítez have not been proved in court.
Ryan Clark is a Canadian accused by US authorities of involvement in cocaine trafficking, and former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding faces separate charges connected to the wider investigation. The case matters because it alleges that money from a major international drug operation was used to influence a court decision, raising questions about how criminal networks may seek help from public officials.