International FBI–DOJ Operation Under Trump Administration Marks Major Blow To Cartel-Linked Narcotics Network
Monday, January 26, 2026, 8:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, & Art Fletcher, Executive Editor: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- Federal authorities confirmed Friday, January 23, 2026, that Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder turned international drug trafficker and one of America’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, has been taken into custody and returned to the United States to face federal narcotics charges following a multinational law enforcement operation.
Wedding, 44, was apprehended in Mexico and transferred to U.S. custody, where he is expected to stand trial in federal court in California. Officials said the arrest concludes a years-long manhunt targeting what prosecutors describe as one of the most violent and lucrative transnational drug trafficking organizations operating in the Western Hemisphere.
From Olympic Slopes To Global Narcotics Network;
Wedding represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City before, according to federal prosecutors, abandoning his athletic career and later emerging as a central figure in a cartel-linked cocaine trafficking enterprise.
Investigators allege Wedding oversaw large-scale cocaine shipments originating in Colombia, transiting through Mexico, and distributed throughout the United States and Canada. Federal officials say the organization generated hundreds of millions, and potentially more than $1 billion annually, in illicit proceeds.
Authorities further allege the organization operated with extreme violence, including ordering targeted killings to protect trafficking routes and silence perceived threats.
FBI: “That Ends Today;”
At a press conference held near Ontario International Airport, Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, described the arrest as a decisive moment in the federal government’s renewed focus on dismantling international criminal networks.
“This individual built a violent empire on drugs, fear, and intimidation,” Patel said. “That ends today.”
Patel credited extensive coordination between the FBI, DEA, Department of Justice, and international law enforcement partners in Mexico, Canada, and Colombia.
DOJ: Accountability Without Borders;
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest and transfer in a public statement, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to holding high-level traffickers accountable regardless of location.
“This arrest sends a clear message,” Bondi said. “No matter how far criminals run, no matter how powerful they believe themselves to be, justice will reach them.”
Bondi added that the Department of Justice is pursuing the case aggressively as part of a broader federal strategy to disrupt cartel leadership, choke off narcotics pipelines, and reduce violent crime tied to drug trafficking.
DEA: “The Head Of The Snake Removed;”
The Drug Enforcement Administration also hailed the operation as a critical success.
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said the takedown represents the dismantling of a major cartel-aligned trafficking structure.
“Multiple agencies poured years of effort into this case,” Cole said. “Today, we removed the head of the snake.”
What Comes Next;
Federal officials said Wedding will remain in custody and is expected to make an initial appearance before a U.S. District Court judge in the coming days. Prosecutors are expected to pursue charges related to large-scale narcotics trafficking, conspiracy, and other federal offenses tied to organized crime.
Authorities cautioned that additional details will emerge through court filings as the case proceeds.
Editor’s Note:
This article was written by and edited by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor & Art Fletcher, Executive Editor for Englebrook Independent News, and is based on official statements and releases from the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, and Drug Enforcement Administration, along with contemporaneous federal briefings regarding the arrest and transfer of Ryan James Wedding. Wedding is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
