Ryan Wedding: Former Olympian and His Links to the Sinaloa Cartel

Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is wanted by the FBI for his alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, linked to major drug trafficking and multiple murders. The cartel, founded in the late 1980s, is a significant player in the drug trade, controlling substantial trafficking operations and contributing to violence in Mexico. Recent activities include using cryptocurrencies for money laundering, indicating its adaptability and continued influence.

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been recently named among the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted Fugitives’. His alleged connection to the Sinaloa Cartel has resulted in a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Wedding is accused of smuggling large amounts of cocaine across North America and is wanted for multiple murders, including a wrongful killing of a Canadian couple in 2023.

The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations globally, was founded by Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in the late 1980s and was significantly led by notorious figure El Chapo Guzman until his capture in 2016. This cartel is recognized for its extensive influence and long-standing history in the drug trade involving various narcotics operational in the United States.

Named after the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, the cartel has long been a major supplier of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana in the U.S. It controls vital smuggling routes in Arizona and California, and operates numerous drug distribution centers across U.S. cities.

The Congressional Research Service reports that, during the early 2010s, the Sinaloa Cartel controlled between 40 to 60 percent of Mexico’s drug trade, generating revenues of about $3 billion annually. A recent indictment suggests the cartel utilized Bitcoin to launder over $869,000 from August 2022 to February 2023.

The organization is often linked to ongoing violence in Mexico and has played a major role in the protracted drug war, contributing to tens of thousands of deaths. Ismael Zambada, a significant player in the cartel at 76 years old, is often referred to as the last of the old-school drug lords, continuing his partnership with Guzman by overseeing drug operations and managing aggressive tactics against rivals.

In summary, the Sinaloa Cartel remains a formidable force in the global drug trade, significantly impacting both Mexico and the United States. With the recent inclusion of Ryan Wedding on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, the focus on the cartel’s activities and its key operatives continues. The cartel’s legacy of violence and influence underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing drug trafficking and organized crime in North America.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com