The lavish and dangerous world of international drug trafficking often includes a cast of characters beyond the kingpin himself. For Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder now listed as one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives, that cast is predominantly female. U.S. authorities have identified several women who form his inner circle, each allegedly playing a distinct role in supporting his billion-dollar criminal enterprise.
The Kingpin and His Court
Ryan Wedding, originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, is described as one of Canada's most significant drug traffickers. He is believed to be hiding in Mexico under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. With a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his capture, the ginger-haired fugitive has evaded authorities for years. His operation is a complex puzzle, and U.S. officials assert that the women in his life are key pieces.
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has taken the unusual step of placing several of these women on a sanctions list. This action blocks any assets they may hold in the United States and prohibits American citizens from conducting business with them.
The Women in the Shadows
Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno, 34, is identified as Wedding's wife. The raven-haired woman from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, has been by his side since 2011. Reports from Los Angeles Magazine indicate she married Wedding in a U.S. federal prison following a failed 2008 drug deal that involved an FBI informant, who was a former KGB agent. Initially, the U.S. Treasury accused Castillo of laundering drug proceeds and assisting Wedding with acts of violence. However, in a surprising turn of events, she was removed from the sanctions list the next day, with officials stating there was insufficient evidence of her involvement.
Daniela Alejandra Acuna Macias, 23, a Colombian national, is described as Wedding's girlfriend. She remains on the U.S. sanctions list and is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from the fugitive, knowing the funds were derived from drug trafficking. While she has not been criminally charged by U.S. authorities, she is believed to be in hiding in Mexico.
The Facilitators and the Fallout
The network extends to those who facilitate relationships and carry out orders. Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, 47, a Colombian madam based in Mexico City, is alleged to be the matchmaker who introduced Wedding to his girlfriend, Acuna Macias. Florez runs one of Mexico City's most exclusive escort agencies and faces a slew of serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, witness tampering, and money laundering.
Further illustrating the violent reach of the organization, Yulieth Katherine Tejada, 36, a Colombian commercial sex worker, was recently arrested at her home in Orlando. She is charged with conspiracy related to murder, witness tampering, and money laundering. The charges stem from her alleged role in helping Wedding and his top lieutenant, Andrew Clark, track down informant Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, 39, who was subsequently executed on the streets of Medellin in January of this year.
This case highlights a growing trend in international narcotics operations, where women are increasingly utilized in key roles. As Professor Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University noted, they can be "ideal killers: Young, beautiful and reckless," often able to operate with a lower profile than their male counterparts. The ongoing investigation into Ryan Wedding's empire continues to unravel the complex web of luxury, violence, and betrayal that defines his world.
