A celebrated Olympic snowboarder has vanished into the shadows, transforming into a ruthless drug kingpin allegedly responsible for a trail of violence stretching across continents. Ryan Wedding, now a fugitive, stands accused of orchestrating a massive cocaine trafficking operation and ordering the execution of a key witness.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges Wedding, shielded by the powerful Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, didn’t hesitate to silence those who threatened his empire. A vital witness, poised to testify against him, was brutally gunned down in a restaurant in Medellin, Colombia, after being identified through photographs posted online.
Adding a shocking twist to the case, Wedding’s own lawyer, Deepak Paradkar – a high-profile figure known for defending notorious clients – is implicated in the conspiracy. Authorities claim Paradkar not only advised Wedding to eliminate the witness but actively facilitated connections to other traffickers and assisted with bribery and murder.
The scale of Wedding’s operation is staggering. Officials estimate his organization smuggled over 60 tonnes of cocaine annually, making him, according to one U.S. Attorney General, the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada. He utilized a network of long-haul semi-trucks to move the illicit cargo across borders.
Beyond the drug trade, Wedding allegedly laundered millions of dollars, employing cryptocurrency to obscure the origins of his vast wealth. So far, authorities have recovered over $3.2 million in cryptocurrency and seized more than $13 million in physical assets.
The investigation has widened, ensnaring seven other Canadians alongside Wedding and Paradkar. Among them is Rolan Sokolovski, a Toronto jeweler accused of laundering drug money through his business, “Diamond Tsar,” and utilizing cryptocurrency to conceal the illicit funds.
Adding another layer of danger, Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarado, a cartel enforcer known as “the General,” is accused of providing Wedding with protection within Mexico and leveraging police sources to identify targets. This demonstrates the depth of Wedding’s connections to organized crime.
The FBI has placed Wedding on its list of Ten Most Wanted fugitives, citing his extreme violence and the belief that he is responsible for numerous murders, including those of U.S. citizens. He is described as a master of planning and execution, exhibiting a chilling level of ruthlessness.
Authorities are now focused on dismantling Wedding’s network and cutting off his access to the U.S. financial system. The reward for information leading to his arrest has been increased to $15 million, a testament to the urgency and gravity of the situation.
