Mexican judge arrested over alleged $2M bribe to free drug kingpin Ryan Wedding’s top deputy

A Mexican judge was arrested after he was accused of accepting a $2 million bribe in exchange for granting bond and ordering the release of Andrew Clark, a Canadian drug trafficker, who was second-in-command to Ryan Wedding.

Wedding, an ex-Olympic snowboarder, was charged with leading a transnational cocaine trafficking operation and with murder and attempted murder.

RELATED: Ryan Wedding, former Olympic snowboarder on FBI's 'Most Wanted' list, arrested

Luis Benítez Alcántara was arrested in Columbia on Sunday. The Department of Justice stated in an agency release that the 49-year-old is charged in a second superseding indictment with nine counts of being an accessory after the fact.  The United States plans to request Benítez’s extradition from Colombia.

If convicted, Benítez would face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on each count, according to the DOJ. 

Mexican judge arrested for alleged $2 million bribe

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On Sept. 4, Luis Benítez Alcántara allegedly used his role as judge to illegally secure Andrew Clark’s release, allowing him to avoid lawful detention. 

According to the Department of Justice, in exchange for the $2 million bribe payment, Benítez issued rulings that facilitated the release from custody of Clark.

Clark was arrested in Mexico in October 2024 on U.S. drug trafficking, murder and attempted murder charges in which Wedding was also named.

After his arrest, Clark appeared before Benítez, who was serving as the district judge in Mexico City overseeing Clark’s extradition proceedings.

The United States formally requested in November 2024 that Clark’s extradition to face prosecution in the U.S. 

Between November 2024 and February 2025, Clark transferred $2.75 million to secure his release from Mexican custody. During this time, Clark also negotiated an agreement to pay Benítez approximately $2 million in exchange for ordering his release.

Benitez received a $2 million bribe payment on Feb. 24, 2025, and he granted Clark bond and ordered his release. The DOJ said a few days later, Clark was arrested again and "removed to the United States," where a criminal case against him is ongoing. 

In January 2026, Wedding, who, at the time, was one of the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, was captured in Mexico and subsequently, "removed to the United States," where he remains in federal custody.  

Wedding faces drug‑trafficking, murder, and attempted murder charges and is currently scheduled for two separate trials on March 31, 2027, and Oct. 26, 2027.

The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Department of Justice release. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.