Ten people have been arrested and a total of eleven are in custody following the unsealing of a federal indictment charging Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder and Canadian national, with running a drug trafficking organization and ordering the murder of a federal witness in Colombia. The case is connected to the January 31 killing of a cooperating witness in Medellín, Colombia.
Wedding, age 44 and currently on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List, is accused of leading an international criminal enterprise that used violence—including murder—to further its activities. In March 2025, Wedding was added to the FBI's most wanted list, with authorities increasing the reward for information leading to his capture to $15 million.
The arrests took place as part of "Operation Giant Slalom," an ongoing law enforcement action targeting members and associates of Wedding’s organization. Among those taken into custody are individuals from Canada, Colombia, and the United States, including Deepak Balwant Paradkar, Atna Ohna, Gursewak Singh Bal, Allistair Chapman, Ahmad Nabil Zitoun, Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, Yulieth Katherine Tejada (a legal permanent U.S. resident originally from Colombia), Edwin Basora-Hernandez (a reggaeton musician), Wilson Riascos, and Rolan Sokolovski.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated: “Whether you’re a kingpin or a dealer on the street, anyone who sells drugs to our kids will be arrested and prosecuted. Ryan Wedding controls one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in this world and works closely with the Sinaloa Cartel. We will not rest until his name is taken off the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List, and his narco-trafficking organization lies dismantled.”
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said: “The murder of a witness in Colombia earlier this year was a cruel, cold-blooded act that could not and did not go unanswered. This week’s arrests underscore our resolve to root out and punish the wrongdoers involved in this criminal organization and serve as a warning for drug lord Ryan Wedding: If convicted, you will never see the outside of a prison ever again.”
FBI Director Kash Patel commented: “Today’s announcement is a culmination of the steadfast work of the FBI and our partners around the world to identify and dismantle violent gang and drug organizations. Ryan Wedding and his associates allegedly imported tons of cocaine each year from Colombia through Mexico and onto the streets of U.S. communities. His criminal activities and violent actions will not be tolerated, and this is a clear signal that the FBI will use our resources and expertise to find Ryan Wedding and bring him and his associates to justice.”
According to investigators, Wedding directed members of his group to kill several individuals seen as threats or obstacles to their operations. This included placing bounties on victims’ heads; one such victim—a witness against him—was shot dead at a restaurant in Medellín earlier this year.
Additional defendants charged include Paradkar—a Canadian barrister alleged to have advised Wedding on avoiding extradition by murdering witnesses—and Bal who operated "The Dirty News" website which reportedly posted photos aiding in locating intended targets.
Basora-Hernandez is accused of providing contact information for victims targeted by Wedding's group.
Law enforcement has also initiated immigration actions against other associates believed linked to these crimes.
Three suspects remain at large: Rasheed Pascua Hossain (Vancouver), Bianca Canastillo-Madrid (Mexico City), and Tommy Demorizi (Montréal/Dominican Republic).
If convicted on all charges related to drug trafficking or murder-for-hire conspiracies involving witnesses' deaths or retaliation killings—as described regarding incidents in Caledon (Ontario) last November—defendants face maximum life sentences under federal law.
Multiple agencies participated in investigating this case including U.S., Canadian, Colombian police forces; Homeland Security; Customs & Border Protection; Ontario Provincial Police; Interpol; among others.
The prosecution team includes Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop, Kenneth R. Carbajal (Major Crimes Section); Jonathan Galatzan, Tara Vavere, Alexander Su (Asset Forfeiture/Recovery Section).
Authorities stress that indictments contain only allegations until proven in court: all defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty.
