A reward poster for the arrest of Ryan Wedding shown at a news conference announcing the former Olympic snowboarder's indictment, in Washington, Nov. 19.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The Mexican government has conducted a series of raids related to Ryan Wedding, the Canadian former Olympic snowboarder turned fugitive, seizing luxury motorcycles, drugs and Olympic medals.
Law enforcement agencies said in a release that the seized items are related to a former Olympic athlete who is among the 10 criminals most wanted by U.S. authorities, but did not name Mr. Wedding. The release made no mention of arrests.
A Mexican government source confirmed that the raids were connected to Mr. Wedding’s alleged international drug-trafficking operation.
The Globe and Mail is not identifying the source, who was not authorized to discuss the raids publicly.
Driver in alleged Ryan Wedding cocaine scheme took part under ‘threat and fear,’ judge found
Authorities say they identified four properties in Mexico City and nearby Mexico State related to the investigation, where they seized 62 motorcycles, two Olympic medals, weapons cartridges, artwork and various documents. Police also seized methamphetamine and cannabis at the properties.
It’s unclear to whom the Olympic medals belong, as Mr. Wedding only ever placed 24th in men’s giant parallel slalom during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Mr. Wedding, whose aliases include “Public Enemy” and “El Jefe,” is the main figure in a two-year-long investigation by RCMP and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has been on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list since March.
It is alleged that he led an organized crime group that conspired to bring large shipments of cocaine into the United States and Canada.
About 30 individuals allegedly connected to him, most of whom are facing extradition, have been arrested or are being sought under U.S. laws.
The hunt for Mr. Wedding, a 44-year-old from Thunder Bay, has lasted more than a year. Authorities believe he is hiding in Mexico with the help of the Sinaloa Cartel, which both the Canadian and U.S. governments have designated a terrorist group. The FBI has posted a US$15-million reward for information that leads to his capture.
American officials allege that Mr. Wedding, in addition to drug trafficking, has ordered the killings of dozens of people around the world, including in Canada, and targeted “innocent family members” of his perceived enemies. He is facing eight felony charges.
Long before Ryan Wedding was one of the FBI’s most wanted, he was swept up in a U.S. drug case
The Canadian fugitive and his accomplices have allegedly made extensive use of cryptocurrency, including the stablecoin Tether and cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin, to launder the proceeds of their drug operation, according to the U.S. indictment.
The indictment showed hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Tether moving between wallets controlled by Mr. Wedding and others.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
“To go after this particular guy seems just a perfect Christmas present to the Americans in the current context, where Mexico has to show its willingness to deliver time and again,” said Falko Ernst, a security analyst in Mexico City.
“It’s hard to say if he’s the big fish some authorities make him out to be, but he’s highly public, fitting the bill of a Netflix protagonist, and what matters most at this moment is narrative control.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently lauded Mexico for its co-operation under President Claudia Sheinbaum. He told reporters that “the Mexican government is doing more on security right now than ever before in its history. Much remains to be done, but we have co-operation.”
Earlier this week, a lawyer connected to Mr. Wedding, Deepak Paradkar, was granted bail as he faces U.S. extradition on charges that he helped plot the murder of a witness.
Mr. Paradkar was one of eight Canadians arrested in connection with the FBI’s investigation into Mr. Wedding. It’s alleged that he committed murder conspiracy, drug trafficking and conspiracy to tamper with a witness.
David Agren is special to The Globe and Mail
With a report from Alanna Smith