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The search for Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian and one of the FBI’s ten most-wanted fugitives, has intensified significantly. Mexican authorities have deployed specialized federal agents to the case, indicating a strengthening relationship between Mexico and the United States.
This move follows suspicions that local officials may have aided Wedding in evading justice.
Wedding, who represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics as a snowboarder, now faces grave accusations. He is alleged to lead a criminal enterprise valued at approximately $1 billion.
His organization is reportedly responsible for smuggling large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine across North America. Furthermore, authorities in Mexico have linked Wedding’s network to international arms trafficking.
Alarming Charges and Connections
Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wedding, 44, and his associate Andrew Clark, face multiple serious charges, including orchestrating several murders in Ontario.
Among these incidents is a tragic case of mistaken identity involving a couple from India who were fatally shot.
There are indications that Wedding may have sought refuge in Mexico, potentially under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa cartel. This cartel once operated under the infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
A statement from the Mexican Embassy in Ottawa confirmed that the FGR (Mexico’s federal law enforcement agency) is actively searching for Wedding, though details of their operations remain confidential.
Collaboration with International Agencies
The task force assigned to capture Wedding is likely collaborating with Interpol and the Mexican navy.
Both agencies were involved in the high-profile arrest of Andrew Clark last year. Clark is currently on trial in California after being extradited from Mexico in February, as part of a broader initiative to transfer suspected cartel members.
In recent months, the Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has faced pressure to adopt stronger measures against drug cartels, which the U.S.
and Canada classify as terrorist organizations. Despite some progress, U.S. State Department officials have voiced concerns regarding the enduring connections between government officials and criminal enterprises in Mexico.
Challenges Ahead for Authorities
The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Wedding’s capture. The FBI has shifted its focus to areas surrounding Mexico City. Recent social media campaigns have sought local insights, revealing that a 2024 image of Wedding was taken in the capital.
Additionally, there are suggestions that Wedding may have undergone plastic surgery to alter his appearance while evading capture. Former DEA chief Mike Vigil expressed confidence in the authorities’ ability to locate him, emphasizing that a man of his stature—standing at six feet three inches—would be difficult to hide in Mexico.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Proceedings
Wedding’s criminal history includes prior imprisonment in the U.S. for involvement in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy linked to a Vancouver-based criminal organization. He has been a fugitive since then, particularly after the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) filed additional charges against him in 2015.
In a related case, two of Wedding’s alleged accomplices, Hardeep Ratte and Gurpreet Singh, are currently facing legal proceedings regarding their extradition to the U.S. They are accused of coordinating large shipments of cocaine from California to Canada, with substantial financial arrangements involved. Singh’s legal representative is pursuing further evidence concerning Singh’s kidnapping by cartel members last year, which reportedly involved Wedding negotiating his release.
Wedding, who represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics as a snowboarder, now faces grave accusations. He is alleged to lead a criminal enterprise valued at approximately $1 billion. His organization is reportedly responsible for smuggling large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine across North America. Furthermore, authorities in Mexico have linked Wedding’s network to international arms trafficking.0
