U.S. authorities have unveiled two fresh images of Canadian fugitive Ryan Wedding as the FBI escalates its pursuit of the alleged drug lord. One of the photos, recently acquired by the FBI, depicts Wedding, aged 44, shirtless in bed, showcasing a prominent lion tattoo on his chest. The snapshot is believed to have been captured in Mexico during the previous summer, as disclosed by the FBI’s Los Angeles field office in a social media update on Monday evening.
Concurrently, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico released what seemed to be an older photo of Wedding, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, sporting a green T-shirt and a shaved head. No immediate details were provided regarding the origin or location of the driver’s license or passport-style image.
Wedding, a former snowboarder representing Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah, was recently included in the FBI’s top 10 most-wanted list. The reward for information leading to his capture was raised to $15 million USD from the earlier $10 million USD. He is accused of managing a criminal organization responsible for trafficking large quantities of drugs from Mexico and South America to Los Angeles, and subsequently distributing them to various locations in the U.S. and Canada.
FBI Director Kash Patel likened Wedding to infamous drug lords Pablo Escobar and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, labeling him as a contemporary criminal figure. The FBI has suggested that Wedding is currently in hiding in Mexico, potentially under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, previously led by Guzman.
The newly-released photos showcase distinct appearances of Wedding, with a receding bald head in the older image and a full head of hair in a more recent snapshot. The bed photo seems to be the first image released by authorities that may have been taken by Wedding himself or someone closely associated with him. Previous images posted by the FBI in 2024 appeared to be captured from a distance without Wedding’s awareness.
The FBI has not disclosed the locations or methods of obtaining the images. However, an investigation by CBC’s visual unit suggested that one 2024 photo of Wedding, donning a blue ball cap and white T-shirt, was taken in Mexico City’s Santa Fe business district. Officials have warned that Wedding might alter his appearance, including changing hair color and potentially undergoing plastic surgery to evade capture.
Standing at six feet, three inches tall and weighing between 230 to 250 pounds, Wedding has used several aliases, including James Conrad King and Jesse King, along with nicknames such as Public Enemy, Giant, Grande, Mexi, and “El Jefe” (the boss). Authorities urge the public to assist in identifying and locating him, emphasizing the importance of any information that could lead to his arrest.
The U.S. embassy in Mexico has urged the public to report any tips regarding Wedding’s whereabouts, emphasizing the significance of such information. Wedding is implicated in numerous murders globally, including the accidental shooting deaths of an innocent Indian couple in Caledon, Ontario, in November 2023, due to a mistaken cocaine shipment theft.
Recently, Wedding and multiple associates were charged in connection with the murder of Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a Montreal-born drug trafficker turned FBI informant in Medellin, Colombia. Court documents revealed that Wedding considered Acebedo-Garcia a traitor and offered a $5 million USD bounty for his murder. A prominent Toronto lawyer associated with Wedding and a crime blogger have also been charged with involvement in planning the assassination.
Furthermore, as part of the investigation, the FBI confiscated an ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster in Miami, estimated at $13 million USD. The vehicle, believed to be one of only six ever produced, was reportedly purchased by a Toronto jeweler accused of aiding Wedding in money laundering activities.