In an intriguing turn of events resembling a ghostly encounter, FBI agents found themselves faced with a critical identification challenge at a Starbucks in Mexico City on January 22, 2024. Their surveillance operation led them to observe two individuals entering the establishment. Among them was a towering figure standing at six-foot-three, possibly the elusive figure they had been pursuing.
To confirm his identity, the agents referred back to a 2013 Quebec driver’s license photo of the suspect. Despite noticeable changes over the years, the man’s use of his real first name, “Ryan,” inside the café left little room for doubt. Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian believed to be orchestrating a violent cocaine smuggling network spanning South and North America, had been successfully located by the FBI.
The sighting at the coffee shop, detailed in court documents outlining the case against Wedding, represents the only confirmed public encounter since his evasion of criminal charges in 2015. Speculation and questions arose following the recent announcement of new charges against Wedding and his associates, along with a heightened bounty of $15 million for his apprehension.
Multiple factors hindered an immediate arrest at the time, including jurisdictional complexities. Any apprehension in Mexico would necessitate cooperation from Mexican authorities, as emphasized by former FBI special agent Kenneth Gray, now a professor at the University of New Haven, Conn. Additionally, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had originally pursued Wedding in 2015 for his involvement in a large-scale cocaine smuggling scheme.
By 2024, Wedding had resurfaced in Mexico under various aliases, presiding over a drug empire allegedly connected to numerous murders and generating substantial yearly profits. Collaborating with the Mounties, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and other law enforcement agencies, the FBI meticulously built a case against Wedding, anticipating his eventual apprehension and trial in Los Angeles.
The encounter at Starbucks marked a pivotal moment in the extensive investigation. During this meeting, Wedding engaged in discussions with two Canadian associates, one of whom would later be detained while the other, an FBI informant, met a tragic end. Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a Montreal-born trafficker, had aligned himself with Wedding post their shared time in a Texas prison, assuming critical roles in the criminal enterprise.
Acebedo-Garcia, who had agreed to collaborate with law enforcement prior to the Mexico City meeting, assisted in infiltrating Wedding’s operations, culminating in a broader FBI-led operation named Operation Giant Slalom. The cooperation led to the monitoring and eventual arrest of Andrew Clark, identified as Wedding’s second-in-command, involved in cocaine shipments and a murderous conspiracy in Ontario.
Despite a series of arrests of Wedding’s alleged associates across various locations, including Colombia, Alberta, and California, the mastermind himself remains at large. The FBI’s intensified manhunt efforts, particularly in central Mexico, signify ongoing attempts to bring Wedding to justice. Tragically, Acebedo-Garcia met a fatal end in Colombia, allegedly orchestrated by Wedding, further intensifying the pursuit of the fugitive.
As the search continues, authorities remain resolute in their pursuit of Ryan Wedding, vowing to apprehend him and any accomplices to face the consequences of their criminal activities.