Ten people have been arrested following the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment that charges 11 individuals in total, including former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding, with involvement in the January 31 murder of a federal witness in Colombia. The arrests are part of “Operation Giant Slalom,” a law enforcement initiative targeting an alleged criminal enterprise led by Wedding.
Ryan James Wedding, 44, a Canadian national residing in Mexico, is accused of overseeing a drug trafficking organization and ordering acts of witness intimidation, including murder. He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List in March 2025, and authorities have increased the reward for information leading to his arrest or prosecution to $15 million. An updated wanted poster for Wedding is available on the FBI website at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/ryan-james-wedding.
The indictment alleges that Wedding ordered the killing of a witness involved in a separate federal narcotics case against him. The victim was shot dead in Medellín, Colombia. In addition to murder charges, Wedding faces accusations related to running a continuing criminal enterprise and drug trafficking. He is also charged with directing murders in Canada as retaliation for a stolen drug shipment.
Those arrested include Deepak Balwant Paradkar (a Canadian criminal barrister), Atna Ohna, Gursewak Singh Bal (co-founder of “The Dirty News” website), Allistair Chapman, Ahmad Nabil Zitoun, Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, Yulieth Katherine Tejada (a legal permanent resident from Colombia living in Florida), Edwin Basora-Hernandez (a reggaeton musician), Wilson Riascos, and Rolan Sokolovski.
Law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation include the FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Departments of State and Treasury – Office of Foreign Assets Control, Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing, Homeland Security Investigation Miami and Chicago offices, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Buffalo office, Ontario Provincial Police, Colombian National Police – Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol among others.
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated: “The murder of a witness in Colombia earlier this year was a cruel, cold-blooded act that could not and did not go unanswered. This week’s arrests underscore our resolve to root out and punish the wrongdoers involved in this criminal organization and serve as a warning for drug lord Ryan Wedding: If convicted, you will never see the outside of a prison ever again.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi commented: “Whether you’re a kingpin or a dealer on the street, anyone who sells drugs to our kids will be arrested and prosecuted. Ryan Wedding controls one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in this world and works closely with the Sinaloa Cartel. We will not rest until his name is taken off the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List, and his narco-trafficking organization lies dismantled.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said: “Today’s announcement is a culmination of the steadfast work of the FBI and our partners around the world to identify and dismantle violent gang and drug organizations. Ryan Wedding and his associates allegedly imported tons of cocaine each year from Colombia through Mexico and onto the streets of U.S. communities. His criminal activities and violent actions will not be tolerated, and this is a clear signal that the FBI will use our resources and expertise to find Ryan Wedding and bring him and his associates to justice.”
Assistant Director Akil Davis added: “Ryan Wedding’s athletic drive snowballed into a life of violence and instead of conquering mountains he mastered a deadly drug distribution enterprise… ‘Operation Giant Slalom’ is a dynamic international investigation… with the shared goal of capturing Wedding… finding justice for several murder victims—including a cooperating witness—and ridding communities…of deadly drugs.”
Senior Bureau Official Chris Landberg announced: “No one, not even a former Olympian, is above the law… We are increasing our reward offer to up to $15 million for information leading to arrest… We are also offering rewards up to $2 million each for assassins behind [the] murder.”
Treasury Under Secretary John Hurley said: “Today we’re exposing the network… behind Ryan Wedding—one of the most notorious criminals… still evading justice… Our goal is simple: make it difficult for criminals like this to profit from poisoning our communities.”
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme emphasized international cooperation: “International cooperation…is vital… The RCMP …work together closely…to collectively target serious organized crime groups that threaten our countries—no matter where they are operating.”
In addition to those arrested Tuesday during “Operation Giant Slalom,” three defendants remain at large: Rasheed Pascua Hossain (Vancouver), Bianca Canastillo-Madrid (Mexico City), Tommy Demorizi (Montréal). Individual wanted posters can be found at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/tommy-demorizi , https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/bianca-canastillo-madrid , https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/rasheed-pascua-hossain . The FBI has also released information about an unknown getaway driver at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/unknown-getaway-driver , as well as images related to five unknown suspects at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/unknown-suspects .
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance along with other domestic agencies as part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at eliminating cartels—and under Executive Order 14159’s Homeland Security Task Force initiative focused on combatting transnational crime.
If convicted on all counts related to these charges—including those connected with murder—Wedding could face life imprisonment.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
