Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian, is now on the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List’ for his ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, involving drug trafficking and multiple murders. The Sinaloa Cartel, founded in the late 1980s, is one of the most powerful drug organizations in the world, heavily involved in the distribution of various drugs in the U.S. and responsible for significant violence in Mexico.
Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has recently gained notoriety by being named on the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List.’ He is alleged to have connections with the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations globally. Currently at large, Mr. Wedding has a $10 million bounty on his head for his alleged involvement in smuggling significant quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to the United States and Canada. Additionally, he is wanted for multiple murders, including a tragic case involving a Canadian couple killed in a mistaken identity incident in 2023.
The Sinaloa Cartel, founded by Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in the late 1980s and later led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán until his capture in 2016, is one of Mexico’s oldest and most significant drug trafficking groups. It derives its name from Sinaloa, the northwestern Mexican state where it was established. For decades, the cartel has played a pivotal role in distributing substantial amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana on U.S. street markets.
The cartel operates smuggling routes primarily through Arizona and California, maintaining distribution centers in several U.S. cities. They are also reported to possess fentanyl production facilities within Mexico. According to Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, the cartel commanded an estimated 40 to 60 percent of Mexico’s drug trade in the early 2010s, generating revenues upwards of $3 billion annually. Recent U.S. indictments reveal that the cartel laundered over $869,000 using Bitcoin between August 2022 and February 2023.
The Sinaloa Cartel is frequently linked to the pervasive violence experienced in Mexico as a consequence of the ongoing drug war, which has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities over the years. One of the prominent figures associated with the cartel today is Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who, at 76 years old, remains a significant player and a relic of the old guard of Mexican drug lords. He has been a long-time associate of Guzmán and is implicated in managing drug transport operations and orchestrating violence against rival factions posing threats to the cartel’s dominance.
The case of Ryan Wedding underscores the extensive and intricate connections between individuals and major drug organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel. This cartel, with historical roots in Mexico and a profound impact on the U.S. drug market, remains a principal figure in global drug trafficking. The violent legacy of the Sinaloa Cartel continues to challenge law enforcement and illustrates the ongoing complexities in combating drug-related crimes.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
