A Mexican judge has been arrested in Colombia on U.S. charges alleging he accepted a $2 million bribe to secure the release of Andrew Clark, a Canadian drug trafficker identified by prosecutors as the second-in-command of the organization allegedly led by former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday, November 5, 2026, that Luis Benítez Alcántara, 49, was arrested Sunday in Colombia on a nine-count federal indictment.
The United States plans to seek his extradition.
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What the indictment alleges
According to a second superseding indictment, Benítez used his position as a Mexico City district judge overseeing Clark’s extradition proceedings to help obtain Clark’s release from custody.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Clark transferred approximately $2.75 million through intermediaries between November 2024 and February 2025 to support efforts to secure his freedom from Mexican detention.
The indictment alleges that a separate agreement was reached for Benítez to receive approximately $2 million in exchange for ordering Clark’s release.
On February 24, 2025, the same day prosecutors say Benítez received the full payment, he granted Clark bond and ordered him released, according to the indictment.
Clark was arrested again several days later and removed to the United States, where his criminal case remains pending.
The indictment charges Benítez with being an accessory after the fact, alleging that he assisted Clark in a way intended to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment.
How the case connects to Ryan Wedding
Clark was arrested in Mexico in October 2024 on U.S. charges involving drug trafficking, murder and attempted murder in a case that also names Wedding.
U.S. authorities describe Clark as a senior figure in a transnational cocaine-trafficking organization allegedly controlled by Wedding, a Canadian who represented the country in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The FBI previously alleged that Wedding’s organization moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California to Canada and other parts of the United States.
Wedding was captured in Mexico in January 2026 and transferred to the United States, where he remains in federal custody while facing drug-trafficking, murder and attempted-murder charges.
His trials are currently scheduled for March 31, 2027, and October 26, 2027, according to the Justice Department.
What happens next for the judge
Benítez remains in Colombia while the United States prepares an extradition request.
If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on each count, the Justice Department said.
The charges are allegations, and Benítez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The FBI investigated the case with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s federal policing branch.
Colombian law-enforcement agencies and U.S. officials based in Bogotá also assisted with the arrest, according to the Justice Department.
The case adds a new layer to an investigation that has involved authorities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia, and that has already produced charges against alleged members and associates of Wedding’s organization.
Why the arrest matters
The allegations against Benítez focus on an alleged attempt to use a judicial decision to disrupt an international extradition process.
For prosecutors, the case is significant because it targets a public official accused of helping a defendant connected to a major drug-trafficking investigation evade detention.
It also illustrates how the Ryan Wedding investigation has expanded beyond alleged cocaine shipments and violence to include claims of corruption, facilitation and obstruction across several jurisdictions.
The next major legal step is expected to be the extradition process in Colombia, followed by Benítez’s initial appearance in the United States if the request is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Luis Benítez Alcántara?
Luis Benítez Alcántara is a 49-year-old Mexican judge accused by U.S. prosecutors of accepting a $2 million bribe to help release Canadian drug trafficker Andrew Clark.
What is Benítez accused of doing?
The indictment alleges that he granted Clark bond and ordered his release on February 24, 2025, after receiving the alleged payment.
How is Andrew Clark connected to Ryan Wedding?
U.S. prosecutors identify Clark as the alleged second-in-command of the transnational drug-trafficking organization they say was led by Ryan Wedding.
Where was the judge arrested?
Benítez was arrested in Colombia on Sunday, November 1, 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
What happens next in the case?
The United States is expected to seek Benítez’s extradition from Colombia, after which he would face proceedings in a U.S. federal court.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against the U.S. Department of Justice announcement, the federal indictment and FBI information on Ryan Wedding. ([justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/homeland-security-task-force-investigation-leads-mexican-federal-judges-arrest-us-charges))
Disclaimer: The charges described in this article are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.