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Mexican judge arrested over alleged bribe to release drug suspect

Authorities in Colombia arrested a Mexican judge for allegedly taking a $2 million bribe to free a drug suspect tied to former Olympian Ryan Wedding.

FTMQ News, written by our newsroom0 views

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Picture: UPI

Authorities in Colombia arrested a Mexican federal judge for allegedly accepting a $2 million bribe to release a drug trafficker, UPI reported on Thursday. United States officials said the money was accepted to free a Canadian man linked to an international cocaine trafficking ring. [1]

UPI reported that Luis Benítez Alcántara, aged 49 of Mexico City, was arrested on Sunday. He was charged with nine counts of being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors said Benítez accepted the bribe to release 36-year-old Andrew Clark. [1]

According to UPI, FOX 11 Los Angeles, and Townhall, Clark is alleged to be the second-in-command of a drug organization led by former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. UPI reported that Clark was arrested in Mexico in October. [1][2][3]

Judges serve as impartial arbiters in the judicial process and are tasked with interpreting and applying the law to resolve legal disputes. Their core functions include evaluating evidence, assessing legal arguments, and ruling on procedural matters during court proceedings. [6]

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In short

  • Mexican federal judge Luis Benítez Alcántara was arrested in Colombia on Sunday.
  • Benítez was charged with nine counts of being an accessory after the fact.
  • U.S. officials said Benítez accepted a $2 million bribe to release drug suspect Andrew Clark.
  • Andrew Clark is accused of being second-in-command of a cocaine network allegedly run by Ryan Wedding.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]Judge arrested over $2M bribe linked to former Olympian's drug networkUPI, 1h ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]x-Olympian Ryan Wedding cartel case: Judge arrested for alleged $2M bribe to free drug deputyFOX 11 Los Angeles, 8h ago
  3. [3]Olympian Turned 'Billion-Dollar' Cocaine Kingpin Had a Judge on the Payroll, Feds SayTownhall, 3h ago

Background

  1. [4]Imprisonment of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wikipedia
  2. [5]1951 college basketball point-shaving scandal on Wikipedia
  3. [6]Judge on Grokipedia
  4. [7]FBI agents face gunfire during San Diego drug gang sweep FTMQ News, 5d ago
  5. [8]Three arrested after Dublin police seize cocaine and firearms worth millions FTMQ News, 2d ago

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 8 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

Related from FTMQ News

Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.

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