A major international law enforcement operation dubbed “Operation Giant Slalom” has resulted in the arrest of ten defendants—including a Canadian criminal barrister, a reggaeton musician, and a would-be gangland news website operator—in connection with the January 31 murder of a key federal witness in Medellín, Colombia.
The murder is alleged to have been ordered by the enterprise’s leader, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding, 44, who is currently a fugitive on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. U.S. and international authorities announced the new charges and arrests on Tuesday, escalating the hunt for Wedding, with the reward for his capture increasing to an unprecedented $15 million.
The Target: A Federal Witness in Colombia
According to a newly unsealed nine-count federal grand jury indictment, Wedding, a Canadian national residing in Mexico and alleged head of one of the world’s most violent drug trafficking organizations, ordered the killing of a witness in a separate 2024 federal narcotics case against him.
“The murder of a witness in Colombia earlier this year was a cruel, cold-blooded act that could not and did not go unanswered,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. The victim was reportedly shot to death in a Medellín restaurant.
The Arrests: A ‘Who’s Who’ of Alleged Co-Conspirators
The ten arrests, part of the second phase of the operation, span Canada, the United States, and Colombia, demonstrating the global reach of the alleged criminal network. Those taken into custody include:
- Deepak Balwant Paradkar, 62: A Canadian criminal barrister from Thornhill, Ontario, who allegedly advised Wedding to murder the victim to avoid extradition from Mexico on the prior charges.
- Edwin Basora-Hernandez, 31: A reggaeton musician from Montréal, accused of providing co-conspirators with the victim’s contact information to help track and kill him.
- Gursewak Singh Bal, 31: The co-founder and co-operator of “The Dirty News,” a seized gangland news website, who allegedly agreed to post the victim’s photograph for a fee to aid in his location and murder.
- Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, 47: A Colombian national arrested in Bogotá.
- Yulieth Katherine Tejada, 36: A legal permanent resident from Colombia, arrested in Orlando, Florida.
- Atna Ohna, 40, Allistair Chapman, 33, Ahmad Nabil Zitoun, 35, Wilson Riascos, 45, and Rolan Sokolovski, 37, from various locations in Canada and Colombia.
In addition to the arrests, law enforcement is taking immigration action against other associates, including a Latin pop artist and the daughter of the arrested barrister.
Wedding: From Olympian to ‘Public Enemy’
Ryan James Wedding, who competed for Canada as a snowboarder in the 2002 Winter Olympics, is now charged with overseeing a continuing criminal enterprise, various drug trafficking charges, and directing multiple murders.
“Whether you’re a kingpin or a dealer on the street, anyone who sells drugs to our kids will be arrested and prosecuted,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi, stressing Wedding’s close working relationship with the Sinaloa Cartel.
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the severity of the charges: “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.”
Authorities are actively searching for Wedding and three other fugitives: Rasheed Pascua Hossain, Bianca Canastillo-Madrid, and Tommy Demorizi. The international coalition, including the FBI, RCMP, and police in Colombia and the U.S., is united in its goal to bring Wedding to justice.
If convicted, Wedding and all defendants charged in connection with the witness’s murder face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
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