Interpol Joins U.S. in Global Hunt for Fugitive ‘El Jefe’

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The world’s most powerful law enforcement networks have now aligned in pursuit of one man: Ryan James Wedding, known in cartel circles as “El Jefe.”

On Monday, Interpol officially joined forces with U.S. federal authorities to escalate the global search for Wedding, a Canadian national wanted in connection with multi-million-dollar money laundering operations, drug cartel financing, and transnational fraud schemes that span at least five continents.

The alliance between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of State, and Interpol marks a significant step in what has become one of the most intense fugitive manhunts in recent memory. 

A Red Notice—Interpol’s highest-level alert—has now been distributed to 195 member countries, calling for the immediate arrest of Wedding, should he surface anywhere within their borders.

Who Is “El Jefe”?

Once a high-performance snowboarder and entrepreneur from British Columbia, Ryan James Wedding’s transformation into a global criminal figure has stunned those familiar with his early career. 

Behind the public façade of a legitimate businessman, Wedding is now alleged to be a top-tier cartel financial operator, laundering vast sums of narco-capital and helping cartels expand their criminal infrastructure into new jurisdictions.

Wedding is believed to operate under several aliases, including:

• “El Jefe”
• “The Giant”
• “Public Enemy”
• “Ghost Broker”

His crimes are said to include:

• Laundering over $100 million USD in narcotics proceeds
• Issuing fraudulent Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs) through shell companies
• Coordinating offshore accounts and crypto wallets tied to Mexican cartel syndicates
• Using forged second passports and synthetic identities to evade law enforcement

Interpol’s Red Notice: The Details

Issued after confirmation of cross-border fraud and cartel affiliations, the Red Notice enables countries across the globe to detain Wedding on sight and fast-track extradition proceedings.

“This man has the reach of a multinational CEO and the ethics of a narco-lord,” said a senior Interpol official. “He finances death. Our job is to bring him to justice.”

Interpol is working with multiple Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), border control databases, and biometric systems to track Wedding’s travel history and identify any new aliases or forged documents he may be using.

Authorities believe he is traveling with at least two false passports, including one from a Caribbean nation and another from a Southeast Asian state acquired through black market diplomatic channels.

A Web of Crimes from Vancouver to Veracruz

Wedding’s crimes are not limited to wire fraud and banking trickery. He has been linked to cartel-controlled real estate in Mexico, crypto-laundering operations in Dubai, and high-level threats to whistleblowers in Canada and Panama.

Case Study: Vancouver Investment Fraud

Between 2018 and 2021, Wedding’s financial companies orchestrated a string of fake investment deals, promising double-digit returns secured by non-existent trade contracts. One elderly investor lost $1.2 million in retirement savings. Authorities later discovered the money was funneled through a Belize shell company and traced back to cartel accounts in Veracruz.

Case Study: Crypto Tumbling and Dark Wallets

A whistleblower in Manila provided U.S. officials with evidence that Wedding’s team used privacy coins like Monero and advanced coin mixers to launder large transfers linked to fentanyl shipments. The whistleblower is now in protective custody under a new legal identity, supported by witness protection authorities.

Operation Black Ice Fallout: A Fugitive’s Evolution

Wedding’s evasion of capture during Operation Black Ice earlier this year was a wake-up call for global agencies. U.S. Marshals and Panamanian forces stormed a gated estate in Panama City believed to house Wedding—only to find he had fled hours earlier using a private aircraft registered under a shell company in Cyprus.

Since then, he’s remained at large, with sightings reported in Colombia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Authorities now believe he uses a combination of digital cloaking, facial surgery, and private charter routes to remain invisible.

Amicus International: Legal Identity Experts Warn of Systemic Loopholes

Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in legal identity solutions and forensic document analysis, has been closely tracking the use of fake identities and passports by fugitives like Wedding.

“The ‘El Jefe’ case is a chilling reminder of how legal loopholes in identity systems are being exploited by criminal networks,” said an Amicus spokesperson. “Our work focuses on helping law-abiding clients change their identity legally—not abuse the system to fund cartels and hide from justice.”

Amicus continues to provide consulting support to law firms, financial institutions, and governments to secure digital identities, prevent fraud, and offer legal second citizenships within full compliance of international law.

Where the Hunt Goes Next

Interpol, the FBI, and their allies are now conducting a multi-continent operation to restrict Wedding’s financial movement, deny him entry into cooperating nations, and shut down the business infrastructure that keeps him afloat.

Key strategies include:

• Freezing bank accounts linked to shell companies
• Monitoring cryptocurrency exchanges for Wallet IDs tied to his aliases
• Coordinated border alerts using biometric facial recognition
• Undercover operations targeting Wedding’s network of enablers, including lawyers, pilots, and fixers

“We won’t stop until Ryan Wedding is in custody,” said a spokesperson for the FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force. “He is now the face of white-collar cartel crime.”

Public Warning and Reward Offer

A reward of up to $10 million USD remains in place for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Ryan James Wedding. Authorities caution that he should be considered armed, dangerous, and highly capable of counter-surveillance.

Do not approach.

Submit a Tip:

• U.S. Department of State – TOC@state.gov
• FBI Public Tip Portal – https://tips.fbi.gov
• Interpol Contact – www.interpol.int/Contact

All tips will be treated confidentially. Reward eligibility will be determined by U.S. federal criteria.

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Amicus International remains committed to identity integrity, legal compliance, and assisting those in need of second citizenship or identity change through lawful, ethical pathways.