Former Olympic Snowboarder Ryan Wedding: Connections to the…

Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, has been added to the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List’ due to links with the Sinaloa Cartel. The cartel, a major player in drug trafficking, has a historical significance and is known for providing large amounts of illegal substances to the U.S. and has a notable role in ongoing violence in Mexico.

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been placed on the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List’ due to his alleged connections with the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. Presently at large, he is sought after for smuggling cocaine from Colombia to the United States and Canada, as well as for being implicated in multiple murders, including the tragic case of a Canadian couple mistaken for rivals in 2023. A reward of $10 million has been established for information leading to his capture.

The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations, was founded by Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in the late 1980s. It gained notoriety under the leadership of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, who infamously made two prison escapes before being recaptured by Mexican authorities in 2016. As one of the oldest drug trafficking groups in Mexico, this cartel is primarily known for its extensive network in drug distribution.

Named after the northwestern state of Sinaloa, the cartel has played a significant role in supplying a substantial quantity of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana to the United States. They control critical smuggling routes in Arizona and California while maintaining distribution centers in several U.S. cities. Allegations also include the operation of fentanyl production facilities in Mexico.

Research by the Congressional Research Service indicates that the Sinaloa Cartel dominated between 40 and 60 percent of the Mexican drug trade in the early 2010s, potentially earning up to $3 billion annually. Furthermore, a recent U.S. indictment suggests that the cartel utilized Bitcoin for laundering over $869,000 from August 2022 to February 2023.

The cartel has been a significant contributor to the ongoing violence in Mexico, playing a crucial role in the drug war that has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities. Among its prominent figures is 76-year-old Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, who is considered one of the last traditional Mexican drug lords. He is reputed to manage transportation operations and hire personnel to protect drug storage facilities while employing hitmen to eliminate threats posed by rival gangs.

This article highlights the criminal activities associated with the Sinaloa Cartel and the recent developments surrounding fugitive Ryan Wedding. The cartel’s extensive involvement in drug trafficking, its historical significance in the realm of organized crime, and its responsibility for drug-related violence in Mexico underscore the pressing issues related to drug control and public safety. The rising use of cryptocurrency in their operations marks a troubling evolution in the tactics used by such organizations.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com