Key Takeaways
- Ryan Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder, is accused of running a vast drug dealing operation and is believed to be living under cartel protection in Mexico.
- Mexican officials have seized motorcycles worth $40m and a $13m Mercedes hypercar belonging to Wedding.
- The seizures also included luxury paintings, artworks, drugs, and two Olympic gold medals.
- Wedding is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list with a reward of $15m for information leading to his arrest.
- He has been charged with witness tampering and intimidation, money laundering, and drug trafficking, and is alleged to have ordered dozens of murders across the globe.
Introduction to Ryan Wedding
Ryan Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder, has been making headlines recently due to his alleged involvement in a vast drug dealing operation. According to the FBI, Wedding is believed to be living under the protection of Mexican drug cartels, and his assets have been seized by Mexican authorities. The seizures include motorcycles worth $40m and a $13m Mercedes hypercar, which were discovered during several raids in Mexico City and the surrounding region. The assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Los Angeles Police Department was instrumental in the seizures, highlighting the international cooperation in the efforts to bring Wedding to justice.
The Seizures and Assets
The seizures took place at four properties in Mexico City and the surrounding region, and the assets seized include 62 motorcycles, many of which appear to be rare Ducatis. In addition to the motorcycles, officials also seized luxury paintings, artworks, drugs, and two Olympic gold medals. However, it is unclear to whom the medals belong, as Wedding competed for Canada in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City but did not win any medals. He came in 24th place in the men’s giant parallel slalom ski event. The seizures also included a rare 2002 Mercedes CLK-GTR, which had been valued at $13m. The fact that Wedding was able to accumulate such valuable assets raises questions about the extent of his involvement in the drug trade and the level of protection he receives from the cartels.
Wedding’s Background and Allegations
Wedding is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a reward of $15m for information leading to his arrest. His aliases include "El Jefe," "Giant," "Public Enemy," "James Conrad King," and "Jesse King", according to the FBI. Officials allege that he launched his criminal enterprise following his release from a US federal prison in 2011, where he was serving a sentence for cocaine distribution. Authorities also allege that he has ordered dozens of murders across the globe, including in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Furthermore, he has been charged in the US with witness tampering and intimidation, money laundering, and drug trafficking. The allegations against Wedding paint a picture of a highly organized and ruthless individual who has been able to evade law enforcement for years.
Comparison to Other Notorious Drug Kingpins
Wedding’s case has drawn comparisons to other famous drug kingpins in Latin America, including Pablo Escobar in Colombia and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán in Mexico. Like these notorious figures, Wedding is alleged to have built a vast and complex criminal enterprise that spans multiple countries and involves a wide range of illicit activities. The fact that he is believed to be living under cartel protection in Mexico suggests that he has been able to form alliances with powerful and well-connected individuals in the drug trade. The efforts to bring Wedding to justice will likely require continued international cooperation and a thorough understanding of the complex web of relationships and networks that underpin his operation.
Conclusion and Implications
The case of Ryan Wedding highlights the ongoing challenges posed by organized crime and the drug trade, both in terms of the violence and instability they generate and the difficulties they pose for law enforcement. The fact that Wedding was able to accumulate such valuable assets and evade law enforcement for so long raises questions about the effectiveness of current strategies for combating organized crime. The seizures of his assets and the ongoing efforts to bring him to justice are important steps in the right direction, but they also underscore the need for continued international cooperation and a comprehensive approach to addressing the complex social, economic, and political factors that underpin the drug trade. Ultimately, the case of Ryan Wedding serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation in the face of organized crime, and the need for sustained efforts to disrupt and dismantle the networks and alliances that enable it to thrive.