In a covert operation near a Starbucks in Mexico City on January 22, 2024, FBI agents had a potential breakthrough sighting. Two individuals, one notably towering at six-foot-three, raised suspicions that one of them might be the elusive Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian fugitive linked to a violent cocaine-smuggling ring spanning South and North America. Verification through a 2013 Quebec driver’s license photo and hearing the man use his real first name, “Ryan,” inside the Starbucks, added weight to their suspicions.
Despite the confirmed sighting, authorities refrained from immediate arrest due to jurisdictional complexities, as any apprehension in Mexico would necessitate Mexican authorities’ involvement. Furthermore, ongoing investigations and coordination among law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, RCMP, DEA, and Los Angeles police, were building a robust case against Wedding, aiming for his eventual capture and trial in Los Angeles.
The encounter at the coffee shop was a crucial part of the extensive investigation led by the FBI. During the meeting, Wedding engaged in discussions with two Canadian associates, one of whom later faced arrest while the other, revealed as an FBI informant, met a tragic fate.
Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a former prison mate of Wedding turned key accomplice, had transitioned to cooperating with law enforcement prior to the meeting, aiding in surveillance and evidence gathering efforts against Wedding and his network. This collaboration eventually led to the arrest of Andrew Clark, Wedding’s alleged second-in-command, in October 2024 on charges related to drug distribution and multiple murders in Ontario.
Despite the arrest of over 30 suspected members of the criminal enterprise associated with Wedding, the elusive kingpin himself remains at large, prompting intensified manhunt efforts by the FBI, including his inclusion on the top 10 most-wanted list. Tragically, Acebedo-Garcia met a fatal end in Colombia in early 2025, allegedly orchestrated by Wedding, underscoring the high stakes in the pursuit of justice against the fugitive.
With Wedding’s whereabouts still unknown, authorities remain determined to bring him to justice, emphasizing their relentless pursuit and warning of impending consequences for those aiding his evasion of the law.