This is what true leadership looks like.
Federal law enforcement officials announced a major breakthrough this week as the FBI confirmed the arrest of international drug trafficking suspect Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic athlete who had been on the bureau’s Ten Most Wanted list.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest reflects the renewed focus on public safety and aggressive crime enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Wedding, 44, was taken into custody Thursday night in Mexico following a coordinated international operation involving Mexican authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Officials said the capture marks the sixth Ten Most Wanted fugitive apprehended since Patel assumed leadership of the FBI.
Patel noted that the bureau has surpassed enforcement results seen during the previous administration, crediting strong leadership at the Department of Justice and close cooperation with state, federal, and international partners. He specifically praised Attorney General Pam Bondi and prosecutors in Los Angeles for advancing the case.
According to federal authorities, Wedding was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in March 2025 after investigators accused him of running a large-scale transnational drug trafficking organization. Officials say the operation moved massive quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and into Southern California, supplying networks throughout Canada and the United States.
Investigators also allege that Wedding authorized acts of extreme violence to protect his criminal enterprise.
Speaking at Ontario International Airport on Friday, Patel described Wedding as one of the most dangerous narcotics traffickers of the modern era, saying his arrest sends a clear message that international borders will not shield fugitives from U.S. justice.
Patel also highlighted 2025 as a record-setting year for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The agency reports more than 67,000 arrests so far this year, representing a dramatic increase over prior years. Officials say fentanyl seizures alone have prevented enough deadly narcotics from reaching the streets to endanger tens of millions of Americans.
In addition, the FBI reports a sharp rise in counter-espionage arrests involving foreign adversaries, a significant increase in recovered missing children, and what Patel described as a notable decline in the national murder rate, trends he attributed to stronger enforcement and clearer leadership from the White House.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis said 36 individuals connected to Wedding’s alleged criminal network have already been arrested. Authorities also seized millions of dollars in luxury vehicles, jewelry, artwork, illegal drugs, cash, and weapons tied to the organization.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed that joint operations resulted in the seizure of more than 20,000 kilograms of cocaine, significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple firearms, and more than $55 million in illicit assets.
Federal officials said the indictment that led to Wedding’s capture was issued by the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office, which will have jurisdiction over the case. Wedding is expected to make his initial court appearance on Monday.
