Two Albertans Arrested in Major Drug Trafficking Bust Tied to Ryan Wedding

BREAKING NEWS: Two men from Alberta have been arrested in connection with former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin Ryan James Wedding, as part of a sweeping crackdown on drug trafficking. The arrests occurred following the unsealing of a new indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier today, naming ten suspects in total under Operation Giant Slalom.

Allistair Chapman, 33, was apprehended by the RCMP on Tuesday, while Ahmad Nabil Zitoun, 35, also from Edmonton, was taken into custody. Of the ten arrested, seven are Canadian, and authorities are currently pursuing an eighth suspect. These developments highlight a serious escalation in the fight against drug trafficking that has plagued Canada and the U.S.

The charges against the suspects include serious allegations such as drug trafficking, murder, and witness tampering; however, specific charges against Chapman remain unclear. This comes after Chapman, a former junior hockey player, previously faced multiple drug-related charges in Alberta in 2018, which were stayed due to court delays.

The urgency surrounding these arrests stems from the violent and dangerous reputation of Wedding, who has been linked to four murders in Ontario. He is described by justice officials as “extremely dangerous” and is believed to be protected by the Sinaloa cartel while residing in Mexico. The FBI has placed Wedding on its 10 Most Wanted List, with a reward for information leading to his arrest now increased to $15 million USD (approximately $21 million CAD).

“We will work with Canadian counterparts to bring him to justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel, drawing comparisons between Wedding and notorious drug lords like Pablo Escobar and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

“All of them are currently locked up awaiting the extradition process,” stated RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme, emphasizing the importance of a fair judicial process for the suspects. The extradition of those arrested to the U.S. is expected to proceed swiftly as authorities aim to dismantle this dangerous drug trafficking network.

As this situation develops, the implications for the Canadian drug landscape and international law enforcement collaboration are significant. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Wedding’s whereabouts to come forward, as the investigation continues to unfold rapidly.