Ex-Olympian Hunted in $15M Drug Lord Manhunt

Washington, D.C. — The United States Attorney General's Office has announced an investigation and manhunt for former Canadian Olympic athlete Ryan Wedding, 43, identifying him as a primary target in the fight against drug trafficking in the region. The U.S. Attorney General's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of the Treasury have linked him to the Sinaloa Cartel.

In a press conference, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Wedding is accused of witness tampering and intimidation, murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking.

Bondi issued an appeal to the population in Mexico, where he is presumed to be hiding under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel, and highlighted that the reward for his capture has been increased to 15 million dollars.

Kash Patel, Director of the FBI, compared him to figures such as 'El Chapo' Guzmán and Pablo Escobar. "Wedding could be one of the most dangerous drug trafficking leaders, comparable to the great historical capos, and we are determined to capture him," Patel stated.

The U.S. government asserts that Wedding, a native of Canada, has become one of the principal actors in the trafficking of cocaine and other drugs from Colombia and Mexico into the United States, using land and maritime routes.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the FBI are maintaining a coordinated operation in several countries to capture him. So far, it is known that Wedding is hiding in Mexico, where he is protected by the Sinaloa Cartel.

The Department of the Treasury announced through its social media channels that "Wedding, with a history of involvement in drug trafficking operations and homicides, is listed among the FBI's ten most wanted fugitives."

The Treasury added that his capture, they report, would prevent the entry of tons of drugs that fuel violence and insecurity in the U.S.