Ryan Wedding Not Connected to Cartel Boss Killing
Ontario-born alleged cocaine kingpin Ryan Wedding did not supply information leading to the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, according to his lawyer. The Mexican military operation that killed the powerful drug lord occurred exactly one month after authorities took Wedding into U.S. custody in Mexico, sparking online speculation of a connection.
“There is zero connection between Mr. Wedding and the action,” insisted Anthony Colombo, Wedding’s California-based attorney.
Wedding’s Drug Empire and Arrest
A former Olympic snowboarder from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wedding, 44, headed a violent smuggling network that trafficked 60 tonnes of cocaine annually across North America, U.S. authorities state. Arrested in Mexico in January, he was swiftly flown to California, where he pleaded not guilty to murder and drug trafficking charges.
Mexican officials emphasize Wedding served as a major logistics operator rather than a cartel boss like Oseguera. For years, the FBI noted Wedding operated under Sinaloa cartel protection, co-founded by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. While no direct ties to El Mencho’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) were publicly confirmed, their networks occasionally collaborated.
When Wedding’s associate Andrew Clark was arrested by Mexican forces in 2024, security minister Omar García Harfuch stated Clark managed logistics for both Sinaloa and CJNG. Clark later became an FBI informant, aiding the probe into Wedding’s operations.
El Mencho Manhunt Details
Mexican authorities located Oseguera after a tip from an associate of one of his romantic partners, supported by U.S. intelligence. Both men were top targets for the U.S., with $15 million rewards offered for information on either.
Cocaine Seizure and Potential Violence
U.S. officials describe Wedding as Canada’s dominant cocaine importer. Investigators link his network to a massive Toronto seizure under Project Castillo, which yielded 835 kilograms of cocaine valued at $83 million, destined for nationwide distribution. The haul bore hallmarks of CJNG involvement.
Toronto-based crime analyst Luis Nájera, originally from Mexico, warns such busts often trigger unreported CJNG reprisals. “When this kind of seizure happens, there’s people who have to pay for that,” he said. “And usually payment is basically, your life.”
Expected Price Surge in Canada
Police in major Canadian cities anticipate El Mencho’s elimination will drive up bulk cocaine prices. Toronto investigators expect the current $21,000 to $26,000 per kilogram range to rise due to Mexican disruptions, spokesperson Ashley Visser stated.
In Montreal, prices hit $33,000 per kilogram after Wedding’s arrest before settling at $21,000, within historical norms. Spokesperson Samantha Velandia noted fluctuations affect quality: purer product at low prices, adulterated when prices climb, posing greater risks to users.
Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree highlighted the benefits: “Any type of reduction in the capacity of transnational organized crime networks to be able to do their trade is important,” though impacts may prove short-lived.
