Over recent weeks, law enforcement has escalated the manhunt for Ryan Wedding, an ex-Olympic snowboarder from Canada, who is allegedly leading a multi-national drug trafficking network. This came to light as Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Wedding faces new charges related to the killing of a federal witness.
Authorities revealed that Wedding is believed to have orchestrated the January murder of a witness in Colombia, an act intended to impede his extradition to the U.S. A federal indictment unsealed in California highlighted the involvement of ten other defendants in this heinous crime.
The situation is dire, prompting the FBI to add Wedding to their list of ten most wanted fugitives. Law enforcement officials are currently offering a stunning $15 million reward for information that leads to his arrest. Reports suggest that he may currently be residing in Mexico, under the protection of the infamous Sinaloa cartel.
In a stern warning issued to drug traffickers, Bondi asserted, Whether you are a street-level dealer or an international kingpin, we are coming for you. We will find you, and you will face justice for your crimes. The drug network operated by Wedding is believed to funnel a staggering 60 tons of cocaine annually into Canada and the U.S.
Authorities revealed that Wedding and his associates utilized a Canadian website known as “the Dirty News” to post an image of the targeted witness, which led to his identification and subsequent murder at a restaurant in Medellín.
Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor for the Central District of California, stated, Wedding placed a bounty on the victim's head, mistakenly believing his death would absolve him of criminal charges and prevent extradition—he was gravely mistaken. In addition to the reward for Wedding, the U.S. government is also offering up to $2 million for information about others involved in the murder.
