FBI offers $10M reward for Canadian ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding, now among 10 most wanted
Canadian alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding has made headlines once again, this time as he has been added to the FBI’s list of 10 most-wanted fugitives. The reward for information leading to his arrest has been increased to a staggering $10 million US, showcasing the seriousness of the manhunt for this elusive criminal.
The FBI and U.S. State Department made the announcement during a press conference in Los Angeles, shedding light on the ongoing pursuit of Wedding. The RCMP initially launched the manhunt in 2015, and now, with the increased reward, the stakes are higher than ever.
Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian snowboarder who competed in the 2002 Olympic Games in Utah, is facing a slew of U.S. federal charges. These charges include involvement in three murders, a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, and leading a continuing criminal enterprise. The Los Angeles Police Department revealed that Wedding’s alleged drug network utilized the city as its primary transport hub to move large quantities of drugs, including a shocking “five metric tonnes of fentanyl per month” to cities in the U.S. and Canada.
Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton of the LAPD emphasized the urgency of capturing Wedding, stating, “The increase in the reward should make it clear: there is nowhere safe for Wedding to hide.” The FBI also released a new photo of Wedding, showcasing him in a blue baseball cap with distinct tattoos and a gold watch on his arm. While the location of the photo remains undisclosed, authorities believe Wedding is currently residing in Mexico under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa cartel.
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, described Wedding as wealthy, dangerous, and well-connected in high places. Wedding, along with 15 alleged accomplices, including his second-in-command Andrew Clark, was indicted in a federal grand jury indictment unsealed in Los Angeles last October. The RCMP had previously laid charges against Wedding in 2015 as part of a cocaine importation conspiracy, prompting his evasion of law enforcement ever since.
Recent reports from CBC News suggest that Wedding is still involved in drug trafficking activities while in hiding. The U.S. State Department, in coordination with the governments of Canada and Mexico, has increased the reward to $10 million in a unified effort to bring Wedding to justice.
The U.S. indictment lists 18 aliases for Wedding, including James Conrad King, El Jefe (The Boss), and Public Enemy. Prosecutors allege that Wedding and Clark employed hitmen to eliminate their underworld rivals. One tragic incident involved the mistaken targeting of an Indian couple in Caledon, Ontario, resulting in a fatal shooting and a surviving daughter who endured 13 gunshot wounds.
In a significant development, Wedding’s alleged right-hand man, Andrew Clark, was recently transferred to U.S. custody from Mexico as part of a major extradition operation targeting cartel-linked figures. Clark’s capture last October involved a dramatic operation with the Mexican navy in the Guadalajara area. Acting U.S. attorney Joseph T. McNally disclosed that Clark had been released on bail in Mexico in recent weeks, raising questions about the circumstances leading to his recapture.
The ongoing pursuit of Ryan Wedding continues to unravel a complex web of criminal activities spanning multiple countries and criminal organizations. As the hunt intensifies, authorities are determined to bring Wedding to justice and dismantle his illicit empire once and for all.
