Key Takeaways
- Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian fugitive, was spotted by FBI agents in a Starbucks in Mexico City in January 2024, but was not arrested due to jurisdiction issues and the need for further investigation.
- Wedding is suspected of running a violent cocaine-smuggling operation across South and North America, with a network linked to dozens of murders and generating $1 billion in revenue per year.
- The FBI, working with international authorities, has been building a case against Wedding since 2015, when he was first charged in Canada.
- A key informant, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, worked with the FBI to infiltrate Wedding’s network, but was later killed in Colombia, allegedly on Wedding’s orders.
- Over 30 suspected members and associates of Wedding’s network have been indicted, with arrests carried out in several countries, but Wedding remains at large.
Introduction to the Manhunt
The FBI’s search for Ryan James Wedding has been a long and complex one, with the Canadian fugitive evading capture for years. In January 2024, agents finally got a glimpse of him at a Starbucks in Mexico City, but he was not arrested. The reason for this was not just due to jurisdiction issues, but also because the FBI wanted to gather more evidence to build a strong case against him. Wedding is suspected of running a massive cocaine-smuggling operation, with a network that spans across South and North America, generating $1 billion in revenue per year.
The Investigation
The investigation into Wedding’s activities began in 2015, when he was first charged in Canada. However, he disappeared and resurfaced in Mexico, where he was living under various aliases. The FBI, working with international authorities, including the RCMP and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, has been building a case against him ever since. The agency has been gathering evidence, including surveillance footage and witness testimony, to prove Wedding’s involvement in the cocaine-smuggling operation. The case against Wedding is complex, with multiple players and jurisdictions involved, making it a challenging task for the FBI to bring him to justice.
The Informant’s Role
A key player in the investigation was Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a Montreal-born drug trafficker who had befriended Wedding in prison. Acebedo-Garcia began working with the FBI in 2024, providing them with valuable information about Wedding’s network and helping them to infiltrate his operation. He wore a recording device to a meeting with Wedding and his second-in-command, Andrew Clark, at a Starbucks in Mexico City, providing crucial evidence for the case against them. Acebedo-Garcia’s involvement was a significant breakthrough in the investigation, but it ultimately cost him his life. He was killed in Colombia in January 2025, allegedly on Wedding’s orders.
The Network’s Scope
The scope of Wedding’s network is vast, with connections to dozens of murders and generating $1 billion in revenue per year. The network has been linked to cocaine shipments to Canada, the US, and other countries, with Wedding allegedly using various aliases and shell companies to launder his profits. The FBI has been working to dismantle the network, with arrests carried out in several countries, including Canada, the US, and Colombia. However, Wedding remains at large, and the FBI is still working to bring him to justice.
The Challenges of Capturing Wedding
The FBI faces significant challenges in capturing Wedding, including jurisdiction issues and the need to work with international authorities. The agency must navigate complex legal and diplomatic channels to apprehend Wedding, who is believed to be hiding in Mexico. The FBI is offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture, but so far, he has managed to evade detection. The case highlights the difficulties of pursuing international fugitives, who often use their wealth and connections to evade capture.
Conclusion
The search for Ryan James Wedding is an ongoing and complex investigation, with the FBI working tirelessly to bring him to justice. The case highlights the challenges of pursuing international fugitives, who often use their wealth and connections to evade capture. However, with the help of informants like Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia and international cooperation, the FBI is slowly but surely building a strong case against Wedding. It is only a matter of time before he is caught and brought to justice, and the FBI is committed to seeing the case through to its conclusion. The agency’s dedication to pursuing Wedding is a testament to its commitment to combating organized crime and protecting the public from the harm caused by drug trafficking and violence.
