Podcast Summary: Front Burner (CBC)

Episode: The Hunt for Alleged Cocaine Kingpin Ryan Wedding
Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Jamie Poisson
Guest: Calvi Leon, Toronto Star reporter

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Jamie Poisson investigates the rise and global pursuit of Ryan Wedding—a former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged cocaine kingpin and fugitive. With input from investigative reporter Calvi Leon, the episode unpacks the extraordinary trajectory of Wedding's life, from his childhood in Thunder Bay to his alleged command of a billion-dollar transnational cocaine empire, comparisons to notorious drug lords, shocking murders, and the sprawling criminal network still evading law enforcement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ryan Wedding’s Early Life and Rise

• Childhood and Athletics
  • Grew up in Thunder Bay, spent formative years at a family-owned ski hill, moved to Coquitlam, BC at age nine ([02:23]).
  • Described by former friends as “confident, carefree, somewhat self-involved at times” ([02:23], Calvi Leon).
  • Reached the 2002 Winter Olympics; performance was “disappointing,” failing to advance past initial rounds ([02:56], CBC Narrator).

2. First Steps into Crime

• Early Criminal Record

  • 2006: Named on a search warrant for a $10 million illegal marijuana grow-op in BC. Not charged ([03:17]).
  • 2008: First concrete involvement in international drug trafficking—caught trying to smuggle 24kg of cocaine from California, negotiated with an informant ([03:41], Calvi Leon).

• 2009 Trial

  • Wedding pleaded not guilty, positioning himself as a fall guy, “a bit player in the grander scheme” ([04:42], Calvi Leon).
  • Contradicted by co-accused, who called Wedding “the mastermind” ([04:59]).
  • Ultimately convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, received four-year prison sentence ([05:06]).
  • Memorable quote:
    • "I've had an opportunity to see firsthand what drugs do to people. And honestly, I'm ashamed that I became part of the problem." — Ryan Wedding to judge ([05:26], CBC Narrator).

3. Networking and Alleged Expansion in Prison

• Incarceration in San Diego & Texas
  • Served time at major drug-trafficker hubs, a “networking opportunity” ([06:44], Jamie Poisson).
  • Married a Canadian entrepreneur while in prison ([06:55], Calvi Leon).

4. Return to Canada & Fleeing Justice

• Deportation & Operation Harrington
  • Deported to Canada in 2011. Resettled in Montreal ([07:11]).
  • Quickly named in a massive RCMP sting (Operation Harrington) worth $750 million; alleged to be “a senior partner” with ties to El Chapo’s associates ([08:03], Calvi Leon).
  • Fled before arrest; on the run since 2015 ([08:33]).

5. Current Status & Law Enforcement Pursuit

• Ongoing Allegations
  • Compared by US authorities to “a modern day Escobar” and “El Chapo” ([00:52], US Attorney General Pam Bondi).
  • US increased the reward to $15 million for his capture ([01:16], Jamie Poisson).
  • FBI alleges Wedding is protected by the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico ([08:41], CBC Narrator).

6. Violence and Alleged Hits

• Murder Allegations

  • Alleged to have ordered assassinations worldwide, with specific cases in Ontario:
    • Caledon: Indian couple attacked in a case of mistaken identity; daughter survived 13 gunshots ([13:01], Calvi Leon).
    • Other cases in Niagara Falls and Brampton related to drug trade retaliation ([13:37]).
  • Law enforcement:
    • "This group was ruthless and violent... All of these victims were intentionally shot execution-style so their loved ones could see them murdered." ([11:46], CBC Narrator).

• Hitman Arrest and Digital Evidence

  • Malik Cunningham: Alleged Wedding-linked hitman, caught via a routine traffic stop due to a fake license plate ([13:57], Calvi Leon).
  • Authorities seized a crucial iPhone with “hundreds and hundreds of encrypted messages” connecting hits to Wedding ([14:17]).

7. Inside the Organization & Key Players

• Jonathan Acevedo Garcia

  • Colombian-Canadian recruited by Wedding in Texas prison. Later turned informant for the FBI ([15:38], Calvi Leon).
  • Gathered critical evidence for prosecution, but was assassinated in Medellin in 2024—-jeopardizing the case ([16:24]).

• Alleged Corruption in Legal Circles

  • Deepak Paradkar: High-profile “cocaine lawyer” accused of advising Wedding to kill the key witness ([17:46], Calvi Leon).
  • Allegedly fed court info, laundered intelligence, linked to day-to-day cartel operations ([18:32], Calvi Leon).

• Other Arrests

  • Ten people arrested in total—seven Canadians, including Montreal crime leader, Colombian “madame”, Calgary hockey player, Toronto jeweler/poker player/custodian of funds ([19:07]).

8. Law Enforcement and Cartel Protection

• Ongoing Search & Cartel Ties
  • Authorities believe Wedding remains at large in Mexico, shielded by the Sinaloa cartel ([20:24]).
  • Despite recent arrests, unclear if the organization is significantly weakened ([20:59], Calvi Leon).
  • "He's obviously considered an asset to the cartels... as long as he can continue operating his organization, I don't see why they would turn on him. I mean, $15 million to them really isn't that much when they're making that much just from a couple cocaine shipments." ([22:12], Calvi Leon).

9. Open Questions & Future Developments

• Impact of the informant’s assassination and lawyer arrests on future prosecutions ([17:21], [19:52]).
• Uncertainty surrounding whether captured associates will cooperate and whether the $15 million reward might motivate betrayal ([21:55], Jamie Poisson; [22:12], Calvi Leon).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wedding’s Global Alleged Status:
  "Make no mistake about it, Ryan Wedding is a modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar... of El Chapo Guzman."
  — CBC Narrator ([01:07])

• On Informant’s Murder and Case Fallout:
  "His death threw the future of the case into a large question mark, really."
  — Calvi Leon ([16:24])

• On Legal Corruption and Undermining Justice:
  "His lawyer told him if you kill this witness, the case would be dismissed. That lawyer is now in custody..."
  — Calvi Leon ([17:46])

• On Cartel Dynamics:
  "He's obviously considered an asset to the cartels... $15 million to them really isn't that much."
  — Calvi Leon ([22:12])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Wedding’s Early Life & Snowboarding Career: [02:04] – [03:04]
• First Criminal Allegations & 2009 Trial: [03:17] – [05:38]
• Prison Networking & Release to Canada: [05:54] – [07:26]
• Operation Harrington & Fleeing to Mexico: [07:26] – [08:33]
• Current FBI Pursuit & Cartel Protection: [08:33] – [10:48]
• Alleged Murders & Ontario Shootings: [11:39] – [13:34]
• Hitman Apprehension & Phone Evidence: [13:49] – [14:59]
• Acevedo Garcia’s Role & Assassination: [15:17] – [16:24]
• Lawyer Deepak Paradkar’s Arrest: [17:21] – [18:32]
• Organization’s Cast & Ongoing Operations: [19:07] – [22:38]

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive, gripping deep-dive into the life, criminal ascent, and ongoing international manhunt for Ryan Wedding. With detailed insider reporting, listeners are given insight into the interconnected world of drug cartels, law enforcement challenges, the roles of unlikely accomplices, and the enduring mystery surrounding Wedding’s current status. The host and guest maintain a serious and investigative tone, illuminating the persistence and reach of global organized crime and the daunting task facing those trying to apprehend Wedding.