An individual from Edmonton, Ahmad Nabil Zitoun, has been given bail after being implicated in aiding suspected cocaine leader Ryan Wedding in locating an FBI informant for potential harm. Zitoun faces extradition proceedings that may lead to his prosecution in California for various charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, witness tampering, and drug trafficking.
Zitoun, who was arrested on extradition charges last year, was released by an Edmonton court recently. The presiding judge described the case against him as serious but lacking substantial evidence. Court of King’s Bench Justice Marta Burns granted his release under strict conditions to reduce the risk of flight.
Zitoun, one of seven Canadians named in a U.S. federal indictment related to a criminal organization allegedly run by Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, who is now at the center of a large-scale international drug trafficking case. Wedding, linked to a cocaine-smuggling network associated with the Sinaloa cartel, was apprehended in Mexico last month after evading authorities for over a decade.
According to the indictment revealed in November, Zitoun is accused of being involved in tracking Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a Montreal-born drug trafficker cooperating with the FBI against Wedding. Prosecutors claim that Wedding offered a $5 million reward for Acebedo-Garcia’s killing after learning about his cooperation. Acebedo-Garcia was murdered in a Medellín restaurant in Colombia by individuals tied to a Colombian crime syndicate.
Zitoun allegedly engaged in violent acts and drug trafficking on behalf of Wedding’s criminal group and assisted in locating Acebedo-Garcia before the murder took place. He was reportedly hired to find Acebedo-Garcia for a fee and was later paid for his efforts. Despite the serious nature of the charges, the evidence implicating Zitoun has not been thoroughly substantiated or tested in court.
During the bail hearing, Zitoun’s legal team argued that the accusations against him rely heavily on an informant with questionable credibility due to his ties to Wedding and the alleged murder plot. They asserted that Zitoun, a Canadian citizen and long-time resident of Edmonton with strong community ties, posed no flight risk. The judge imposed strict bail conditions to mitigate any potential risks associated with his release, considering Zitoun’s minimal criminal record and low status within the alleged drug ring.
As part of the bail conditions, Zitoun provided a substantial surety and collateral, including funds from his mother and the equity of his home. He is also prohibited from contacting his brother, who is allegedly linked to Wedding’s criminal activities, to ensure compliance with the bail terms.