Every parent, at some point, delivers the same warning: steer clear of *that* one. The kid who spells trouble. Today, that kid is Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder now accused of leading a vast international drug operation. This isn’t a story of innocent bystanders caught in the wrong place; those involved are deeply entangled in a dangerous web.
The fallout continues as Montreal gangster Tommy Demorizi recently pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles, linked to a murder allegedly ordered by the 44-year-old Wedding. The plot involved a Quebec hitman and a reggaeton singer, a chilling combination of underworld elements. Demorizi faces eight charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and witness tampering, identified by authorities as a key figure in Wedding’s criminal network.
Authorities apprehended Demorizi in February at Newark International Airport, after he’d reportedly been hiding in the Dominican Republic. Investigators believe he was tasked with tracking down an FBI informant, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, who was ultimately murdered in Colombia in 2025. A $5 million bounty had been placed on Acebedo-Garcia’s head, illustrating the ruthless stakes involved.
For years, Wedding operated from Montreal, building a billion-dollar drug empire. But as pressure mounted, he fled to Mexico, continuing his operations until January. His capture remains a point of contention – his lawyer claims surrender, while the FBI asserts he was apprehended. The details are murky, but the outcome is clear: Wedding is in custody.
Demorizi’s alleged role was as a crucial intermediary. Wedding’s organization had long relied on a network of South Asian truckers to smuggle tons of cocaine and methamphetamine across the U.S.-Canada border. However, as the investigation intensified last fall, the walls began to close in. The organization was on the verge of collapse.
The crackdown has been sweeping. Wedding’s lawyer, key lieutenants, business associates, and even South Asian crime bosses based in Brampton have been arrested, facing extradition to the U.S. To date, a staggering 37 individuals have been charged in connection with the operation. An indictment unsealed in October 2024 alleges at least four murders linked to the drug-smuggling ring.
Alongside Demorizi, Andrew Clark, Wedding’s alleged second-in-command – a former Toronto elevator mechanic – was also arrested. Wedding himself maintains his innocence, and his trial is scheduled for later this summer. The case promises to reveal the intricate details of a sophisticated criminal enterprise.
According to organized crime expert Antonio Nicaso, Wedding’s situation in Mexico had become increasingly precarious. The Sinaloa cartel, once his protectors, is losing ground to the rising power of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, creating a volatile and dangerous environment. Nicaso speculated that this instability may have contributed to Wedding’s decision to surrender or be captured.
The professor’s assessment was stark: “No criminal wants the FBI in their backyard.” Now, those connected to Wedding face dire consequences. The landscape has shifted, and the repercussions are absolute. The world Wedding inhabited has become a place where associates don’t just face prison – they face extinction.
