A startling new claim from within the heart of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel is casting doubt on the infamous reputation of Ryan Wedding, the Canadian fugitive and former Olympian who now sits atop the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list with a staggering $15 million bounty on his head.
From Olympic Snowboarder to FBI's Public Enemy
Ryan Wedding, originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, has been a fugitive since 2015. In November 2025, he achieved notoriety by joining the FBI's elite Ten Most Wanted list, with the reward for his capture increased to $15 million. U.S. authorities accuse him of leading a multinational drug trafficking network that moves cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin from Mexico into the United States, before smuggling it into Canada via transport trucks allegedly controlled by South Asian criminal groups. He has been labelled by American law enforcement as "the biggest dope dealer north of the 49th parallel" and compared to legends of the drug trade like Pablo Escobar and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
A Cartel Insider's Controversial Allegation
However, a report from CBC News, citing an interview with a Sinaloa cartel hitman, suggests Wedding's fearsome image may be largely an invention. The operative compared Wedding to the fictional criminal mastermind Keyser Söze from the film "The Usual Suspects," implying his legend is built on myth rather than substance. "They are inflating the news, they are inflating this person to put all the attention on him," the hitman stated, suggesting U.S. authorities may already know his whereabouts and are building a narrative for a future, dramatic arrest.
The cartel insider expressed skepticism that a Canadian could manage the vast logistical operation the FBI describes without significant, undisclosed help. "Personally, I think it's too large a job for a Canadian," he told the network. Furthermore, he cast doubt on the Sinaloa cartel's current ability to protect Wedding, citing an ongoing and bloody internal civil war between factions loyal to El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and rival leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia.
Questions from the Ground in Mexico
Adding to the mystery, a local Mexican military commander indicated that Wedding is not a priority on their radar. Maj.-Gen. Julices Julián Gonzalez Calzada of the National Guard told CBC News he has "very little information about him." He suggested Wedding's notoriety may be a perception driven by Canadian concerns, stating, "The perception (of Wedding) comes from the people of Canada, and if they consider that this person affects them the way Pablo Escobar did... well, maybe they see it that way."
Despite these claims from within the cartel, the FBI's substantial bounty and serious allegations stand. Wedding remains a wanted man, accused of orchestrating a massive drug pipeline and being responsible for dozens of murders. The conflicting narratives create a complex portrait: is Ryan Wedding a genuine transnational crime lord being sheltered in Mexico, or is he, as the hitman alleges, a convenient "PR exercise" crafted by U.S. authorities desperate for a high-profile target? The truth, much like the fugitive himself, remains elusive.
