A Canadian individual, central to a major global criminal probe, remains on the lam with assistance from the Sinaloa drug cartel and other criminal groups in Mexico, as per the FBI. Ryan Wedding, a fugitive since 2015, is sought for various drug-related offenses, including murder plots. Due to his fugitive status, the U.S. State Department has raised the reward for his capture to $15 million from $10 million.
Initially recognized during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Wedding transitioned from a Canadian Olympian to a wanted criminal. Following his snowboarding career, he faced legal issues in 2008, connected to cocaine procurement in California. Despite subsequent charges in Montreal for cocaine trafficking in 2015, Wedding managed to escape to Mexico, where he has eluded authorities ever since.
Suspected to be residing in Mexico, Wedding, aged 44, supposedly heads a significant drug trafficking network, shielded by the formidable Sinaloa cartel. While Mexico is seen as his likely hideout, there are speculations about his potential movements to other countries like the U.S., Canada, and several Central American nations.
Evading capture for over a decade, Wedding is believed to be shielded by the Sinaloa cartel and accomplices, hindering law enforcement efforts. The cartel, known for its global reach and violence, provides cover for Wedding, aiding in his evasion tactics and relocation strategies. Despite ongoing assistance from Mexican authorities, Wedding’s capture remains elusive.
Described as the top cocaine distributor in Canada and the leader of a violent drug trafficking organization, Wedding is implicated in orchestrating numerous murders worldwide. The FBI has labeled him as one of the most dangerous fugitives due to his extensive drug operations involving cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Comparisons have been drawn between Wedding and infamous drug lords like Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzman.
Recent arrests linked to Wedding’s indictment include ten individuals, including his lawyer, arrested for advising him on criminal activities. Despite previous arrests related to Wedding, the U.S. government has pledged to bring him to justice, emphasizing that no individual, regardless of their past achievements, is exempt from the law.
