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Former Olympic Snowboarder Ryan Wedding Wanted in U.S. for Drug Trafficking and Murders

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Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding has been charged with leading a large drug trafficking organization responsible for shipping massive amounts of cocaine across the Americas, along with being involved in the murders of four people, according to U.S. authorities. The FBI has placed a $50,000 bounty for information leading to the capture and extradition of Wedding, who is currently considered a fugitive. The 43-year-old Canadian citizen, who had been residing in Mexico, is charged in the U.S. with running a criminal enterprise, murder, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and other serious offenses.

Wedding’s drug trafficking operation reportedly moved significant amounts of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and California to various destinations in Canada and the United States. U.S. prosecutors claim the organization used long-haul semi-trucks to transport the drugs. Wedding, along with 15 others, was implicated in the conspiracy, which allegedly smuggled up to 60 tons of cocaine per year. Four of the accused, including Wedding, remain at large, stated U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada at a press conference in Los Angeles. “He chose to become a major drug trafficker and he chose to become a killer,” Estrada emphasized.

FBI Special Agent Krysti Hawkins revealed that 12 individuals have already been arrested in various locations, including Florida, Michigan, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico. Authorities allege that Wedding’s criminal group was involved in the deaths of two family members in Canada, which they believe stemmed from a stolen drug shipment. The incident, described as a case of mistaken identity, also involved the killings of two additional people. Federal filings mention that law enforcement seized cocaine, firearms, ammunition, cash, and over $3 million in cryptocurrency during the investigation.

Wedding’s criminal history is not new. He competed for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City but was later convicted in the United States of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 2010, for which he served a prison sentence. After his release, U.S. officials suspect that Wedding returned to drug trafficking, allegedly under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

Apart from the U.S. charges, Wedding faces unresolved drug trafficking charges in Canada dating back to 2015. Chris Leather, Chief Superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), confirmed that these charges are still pending, underscoring the seriousness of Wedding’s involvement in cross-border criminal activity.

 

Global Operation Dismantles ‘Ghost’ Cybercrime Platform, 51 Arrested

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An international law enforcement operation has successfully taken down the encrypted communication platform, Ghost, which was widely used by criminal organizations for large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, Europol announced on Wednesday. The operation led to the arrest of 51 suspects from various countries, and officials expect additional arrests in the coming days.

The Ghost platform had become notorious among organized crime networks due to its advanced security features, which made it a preferred tool for illegal activities. Europol hailed the platform’s dismantling as a major victory in the global fight against organized crime. “This was truly a global game of cat and mouse, and today, the game is up,” said Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Europol’s Deputy Executive Director.

The extensive operation also prevented multiple threats to life, dismantled a drug production lab in Australia, and resulted in the global seizure of weapons, drugs, and over €1 million in cash. Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, described Ghost as “a lifeline for serious organized crime,” and emphasized that the operation demonstrated that no criminal network is beyond the reach of international law enforcement.

Authorities from Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States collaborated in this operation, highlighting the global commitment to combat organized crime. As investigations continue, more illegal activities are expected to be disrupted in the coming weeks.

 

Mexican Drug Lord Who Founded Zetas Released from U.S. Prison

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Osiel Cardenas, the notorious Mexican drug lord who founded the ultra-violent Zetas cartel, has been released from a U.S. prison after serving over a decade behind bars. Initially captured in 2003 and extradited to the United States in 2007, Cardenas was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2010.

The Zetas, once an enforcement arm of Cardenas’ Gulf Cartel, became one of the most feared and violent crime syndicates in Mexico, notorious for their brutal methods. Although their influence has waned in recent years, the group was largely responsible for escalating violence, extortion, and kidnapping for ransom across Mexico.

Cardenas was released into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, though it remains unclear whether he will be deported to Mexico or remain in U.S. custody. According to a U.S. official cited by NBC, the Biden administration is expected to hand Cardenas over to Mexico, where he faces outstanding charges.

Leo Silva, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who fought against the Zetas, noted that Cardenas was a key figure behind the rise in gruesome violence across Mexico. “He unleashed this mentality of creating fear in the country,” Silva said, referencing Cardenas’ role in expanding organized crime’s reach beyond drug trafficking to extortion and terrorizing communities.

Cardenas is currently being held in a U.S. immigration detention center, pending a final decision on his fate.