Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The United States on Wednesday intensified its manhunt for a former Canadian Olympian who U.S. law enforcement accuses of being a drug kingpin on the scale of Pablo Escobar and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
It is not immediately clear how long the United States has been hunting Ryan Wedding but he was first indicted in the United States in October 2024. In March, he was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list and a State Department reward of $10 million was announced for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Authorities believe the 44-year-old Canadian is residing in Mexico and is being protected by the Sinaloa Cartel.
During a press conference by U.S. federal law enforcement on Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced an all-of-government intensification in their hunt for the man.
"He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in the world," she said, adding that every year he is allegedly responsible for importing 60 metric tons of cocaine into Los Angeles.
