Understanding Ryan Wedding’s Connection to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is now on the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List’ due to alleged links with the Sinaloa Cartel, which is noted for its major role in drug trafficking. Founded in the late 1980s and formerly led by El Chapo Guzman, the cartel is responsible for a significant portion of drugs in the US and ongoing violence in Mexico. It operates lucrative smuggling routes and has been involved in money laundering activities.

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been placed on the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List’ due to his alleged links to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. He is currently at large with a reward of $10 million for his capture. Accusations against Mr. Wedding include the smuggling of significant quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to Canada and the United States, along with multiple murder charges, notably the mistaken identity killings of a Canadian couple in 2023.

The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most notorious drug trafficking organizations, was established by Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in the late 1980s. El Chapo Guzman led the cartel, famously escaping from prison twice before being captured by authorities in Sinaloa in 2016. The cartel is regarded as one of the oldest and most stable drug trafficking groups in Mexico, originating from the state of Sinaloa.

Having long supplied a substantial portion of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana found on American streets, the Sinaloa Cartel manages smuggling routes particularly in Arizona and California while maintaining distribution centres across various US cities. Furthermore, it has been implicated in operating fentanyl manufacturing facilities in Mexico.

Research from the Congressional Research Service indicates that the cartel controlled approximately 40 to 60 percent of Mexico’s drug trade in the early 2010s, reportedly generating up to $3 billion annually. Recent US indictments reveal that the cartel utilized Bitcoin to wash over $869,000 between August 2022 and February 2023.

The Sinaloa Cartel is linked to the persistent violence in Mexico, contributing heavily to the protracted drug war that has led to the loss of tens of thousands of lives. Among its significant figures is Ismael Zambada, a 76-year-old operative considered the last of the traditional Mexican drug kingpins, who has been partner to Guzman throughout their criminal undertakings. Zambada has been implicated in overseeing transportation operations, engaging armed guards, and orchestrating the kidnapping and assassination of rival threats to the cartel.

The case of Ryan Wedding underscores the dangerous links between notable figures and drug trafficking organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel. Established in the late 1980s, the cartel continues to dominate the drug trade while perpetuating violence across Mexico and beyond. With substantial profits from drug trafficking and money laundering operations, the Sinaloa Cartel remains a critical challenge for law enforcement agencies in both Mexico and the United States.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com