Operation Black Ice: The Failed Takedown of Ryan’s “Giant” Wedding

VANCOUVER, B.C. — What was meant to be a decisive international arrest instead became a case study in failure. Operation Black Ice, a coordinated effort between Canadian, American, and Mexican authorities to apprehend Ryan James Wedding—known in criminal circles as “The Giant”—has ended in spectacular collapse.

Wedding, a former Canadian athlete turned accused cartel financier, remains at large following what sources now admit was a “critical failure in international coordination.” 

Despite a year of surveillance, wiretaps, and undercover operatives, the elusive fugitive managed to evade capture in early 2025, just hours before agents closed in on a luxury hideout in Panama City.

“It was a textbook operation—until it wasn’t,” said a former DEA agent familiar with it. “We had him. And then we didn’t.”

A $10 Million Target Slips Away

Ryan “Giant” Wedding is no ordinary fugitive. Once a celebrated snowboarder from British Columbia, he now stands accused of managing financial and logistical operations for a cartel faction based in Veracruz, Mexico. He faces 18 federal charges, including money laundering, wire fraud, racketeering, and narcotics trafficking.

The U.S. State Department has issued a USD 10 million reward for information leading to his arrest, placing him in the same league as the world’s most wanted fugitives.

Operation Black Ice was intended to close that chapter. Instead, it exposed the vulnerabilities in international law enforcement partnerships and the technological sophistication of modern fugitives.

What Went Wrong in Panama?

According to intelligence briefings, authorities received a tip in February 2025 that Wedding was living under an assumed identity in Panama’s high-security Santa María Golf & Country Club community. Surveillance confirmed frequent appearances by an individual matching Wedding’s biometric profile, now altered by minor facial reconstruction.

Working under joint command, U.S. Marshals and Panamanian anti-drug units staged a raid. But Wedding was gone—mere hours earlier, tipped off through encrypted messaging and reportedly extracted via a private jet registered in the British Virgin Islands.

“The speed of the extraction and the precision of the evasion point to a network that is not just criminal, but militarized in its discipline,” said an Interpol investigator.

A Criminal Mastermind with a Professional Playbook

Wedding’s ability to avoid capture, despite being under active surveillance, underscores his deep ties to organized crime and his expertise in identity fraud. Authorities believe Wedding has access to:

• Multiple false identities supported by authentic but fraudulently obtained passports
• Cryptocurrency wallets routed through mixers and privacy coins like Monero
• Shell companies operating in Canada, Panama, and Belize are used for laundering and relocation
• Cartel security units trained to detect and counter surveillance

He is believed to use a rotating satellite phone system, changing devices every 72 hours to avoid geo-location.

Case Study: The “Mirror Vault” Extraction

Internal briefings suggest Wedding’s Panama escape followed a method known among fugitives as a “mirror vault” extraction—a pre-planned exit strategy using three redundant identities, travel routes, and safe houses.

Investigators recovered documentation that included:

• A diplomatic-style passport from a Caribbean nation issued under a pseudonym
• Boarding passes for two decoy flights
• Access credentials to a marina where a speedboat matching a cartel vessel description vanished offshore

This method mirrors tactics used by high-level cartel operatives and rogue intelligence officers.

Case Study: Wedding’s False Death in Mexico

In 2023, Mexican officials announced the death of a man matching Wedding’s biometric profile following a shootout in the state of Oaxaca. The body was quickly cremated before full DNA confirmation. Months later, Wedding’s voice was identified in intercepted communications about a crypto-laundering scheme in Dubai.

Analysts now believe Wedding orchestrated a fake death to mislead authorities, using a cartel body double and corrupt officials to stage the ruse.

Fallout and Political Tensions

The collapse of Operation Black Ice has sparked tension between Canadian and U.S. authorities. Questions are being raised about intelligence leaks, with speculation that someone inside the operation may have tipped Wedding off.

Members of Canada’s Standing Committee on Public Safety call for an internal review, while American senators have demanded hearings into transnational cooperation on cartel-related fugitives.

“We can’t keep losing to criminals who exploit loopholes and outmaneuver our agencies,” said U.S. Senator Rachel Mendes. “This isn’t just about one man—it’s about a system that allowed him to become untouchable.”

Amicus International Consulting: The Realities of Legal Identity vs. Fraud

Experts at Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in legal identity transformation, commented on Operation Black Ice’s implications.

“Wedding’s actions are a stark warning of what happens when identity systems are exploited illegally,” said a representative of Amicus. “We help clients obtain legal second citizenship and identity changes through lawful frameworks—what he did was identity fraud on an industrial scale.”

Amicus is urging governments to invest in biometric accountability, international identity verification protocols, and transparency in citizenship by investment programs, many of which Wedding is believed to have used as criminal cover.

Where is Ryan’s Wedding Now?

Authorities believe Wedding is in Southeast Asia—possibly Thailand, the Philippines, or Malaysia—using his criminal network’s resources to remain mobile and untraceable.

Interpol’s Red Notice remains active, and efforts are underway to secure cooperation from regional authorities and financial institutions tracking money laundering operations.

 Surveillance has also intensified at international ports and private air terminals, as weddings use yachts and charter jets to avoid traditional immigration checks.

Public Assistance Remains Critical

Despite Operation Black Ice’s failure, the $10 million reward remains effective. Tips can be submitted anonymously via:

• Interpol Contact: www.interpol.int/Contact
• FBI Tip Line: https://tips.fbi.gov
• U.S. Rewards for Justice Program: TOC@state.gov

The public is cautioned not to approach Wedding if seen. He is considered armed, dangerous, and capable of deploying countermeasures.

📞 Contact Information
Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402
Email: info@amicusint.ca
Website: www.amicusint.ca

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Amicus International Consulting continues to monitor developments in high-profile identity fraud, second citizenship abuse, and transnational criminal mobility. We stand ready to support ethical identity solutions for those who need them legally.