Law enforcement around the world just pulled the curtain back on Operation Giant Slalom, and the picture they’re painting of alleged drug trafficker Ryan Wedding is massive. This wasn’t a routine press conference. This was every major agency — the FBI, DOJ, State Department, Treasury, RCMP, Colombian authorities — stepping up to a microphone and making it absolutely clear they want Wedding found, arrested, and off the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List.
According to federal indictments and official statements, Wedding is accused of running a sprawling international drug trafficking enterprise that moved multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and into the U.S. and Canada. Authorities describe him as violent, organized, and deeply connected, with the DOJ alleging he ordered multiple murders to protect his operation and avoid extradition. The most serious accusation involves the January 2025 killing of a federal witness in Medellín, Colombia — something prosecutors say was ordered directly by Wedding, who allegedly put a bounty on the victim to stop testimony in a 2024 U.S. narcotics case. Officials say the witness was tracked down and shot inside a restaurant in Medellín. If convicted of charges related to that killing, Wedding faces life in federal prison.
And it wasn’t just Wedding in the indictment. Eighteen additional defendants were charged — a wild mix of attorneys, musicians, media personalities, and alleged cartel-linked associates — all accused of helping the enterprise stay protected, informed, and moving. Federal officials say one criminal barrister illegally shared court documents and even advised Wedding on killing the witness; a reggaeton artist allegedly provided the victim’s contact info; the operator of a website allegedly took payment to manipulate content and post the victim’s photo; and several associates are facing immigration actions tied to their roles. Not everyone has been caught, either. While Tuesday’s coordinated arrests brought in many defendants, officials say Wedding is still on the run, along with Rasheed Pascua Hossain, Bianca Canastillo-Madrid, and Tommy Demorizi — who authorities believe is a fugitive in the Dominican Republic.
What makes Operation Giant Slalom even more intense is how many agencies were involved. The FBI credits assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department, Department of State, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, RCMP, and Colombian National Police — plus Homeland Security Investigations, CBP, Ontario Provincial Police, Interpol units, and more. It’s rare to see this much international cooperation rolled out in one case, and every agency echoed the same message: they are fully unified, they’re not backing down, and they’re not letting this case fade.
The U.S. government isn’t being shy about the stakes, either. The State Department raised the reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and/or conviction to up to $15 million, and is offering up to $2 million for information on the people involved in the witness’s murder. Treasury announced sanctions intended to cut Wedding and his alleged enterprise off from the U.S. financial system entirely. Prosecutors emphasized their intent to dismantle the entire organization, top to bottom. FBI leadership described Wedding’s alleged cocaine imports as “tons” per year — numbers that, if accurate, put this case in rare territory.
The tone across every statement was the same: Wedding is a global priority, the charges are severe, and law enforcement isn’t stopping until he’s in custody. No dramatics, no exaggeration — just agencies around the world using their own words to paint a picture of what they allege is a violent, cartel-linked drug boss with an international footprint and a long list of charges still waiting for him in U.S. court.
