In a covert operation near a Mexico City Starbucks on January 22, 2024, FBI agents observed two individuals entering the establishment. Among them was a towering six-foot-three-inch man suspected to be Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian believed to be orchestrating a violent cocaine-smuggling network across the Americas. Despite confirming Wedding’s presence and real name during the encounter, authorities refrained from immediate arrest due to jurisdictional complexities and ongoing investigations.
The recent announcement of new charges against Wedding and a heightened $15 million reward for his capture have sparked public interest and speculation regarding his evasion tactics. Wedding, initially sought by the RCMP in 2015 for drug-related offenses in Montreal, had resurfaced in Mexico under various aliases while allegedly expanding his criminal empire, associated with numerous murders and substantial profits.
Collaborating with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI meticulously built a case against Wedding, anticipating his capture and subsequent trial in Los Angeles. A crucial meeting at Starbucks marked a significant development in the investigation, where Wedding engaged in discussions with associates, including Andrew Clark, his purported second-in-command.
Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a former associate turned FBI informant, played a pivotal role in gathering incriminating evidence against Wedding and his accomplices. Acebedo-Garcia’s cooperation, initiated a month before the Starbucks meeting, facilitated the infiltration of Wedding’s operations, leading to Clark’s arrest in October 2024 on drug trafficking and murder charges.
Despite multiple arrests and indictments related to the Wedding Criminal Enterprise, Wedding continues to evade capture. His inclusion in the FBI’s top 10 most-wanted list underscores the ongoing manhunt efforts focused on central Mexico. Tragically, Acebedo-Garcia met a fatal end in 2025, allegedly orchestrated by Wedding, further intensifying the pursuit of the elusive fugitive by law enforcement authorities.
The relentless pursuit of justice for Wedding and his associates remains a top priority for law enforcement agencies, emphasizing their determination to hold him accountable for his alleged criminal activities.
