Damion Ryan’s life is a descent into a world of shadows and escalating danger. A career criminal with roots on the West Coast, he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at Vancouver Airport in 2015, a chilling prelude to the chaos that would follow.
Ryan’s rap sheet reads like a catalogue of serious offenses: convictions for trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl in Manitoba, and inclusion in a British Columbia government lawsuit aimed at seizing Hells Angels clubhouses. He’s become a central figure in a web of illicit activity, constantly looking over his shoulder.
The stakes dramatically increased on April Fool’s Day when Ontario Provincial Police charged him in connection with the 2021 murder of Giovanni Costa in Bolton. While Costa was the victim, evidence suggests his son, Michael, was the intended target, surviving two separate attempts on his life.
Ryan’s legal calendar is a testament to his precarious situation. He faces a court appearance in Ottawa regarding the Bolton slaying, a drug conspiracy sentencing in Winnipeg, and new charges of attempted murder and conspiracy dating back to 2020 and 2021 – all designed to keep him behind bars.
Two other individuals allegedly involved in the Bolton hit, Filmon Fesshaghirgis and Waheed Barakziye, remain at large, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation. It’s crucial to remember that none of the accusations against Ryan have been proven in a court of law.
This case exposes a disturbing trend: a dangerous alliance between the Islamic Republic, its clandestine networks, and established organized crime. Experts fear this collaboration will only intensify given the current conflicts in the Middle East.
Labour Peer Kevan Jones articulated the growing concern, stating that Iran increasingly relies on mercenaries and criminal organizations to carry out its operations, paying individuals to do its bidding. This outsourcing of violence presents a significant threat.
The legendary mobster Charles “Lucky” Luciano famously said, “there’s no good money or bad money, only money.” However, Luciano and his associate Meyer Lansky, despite their criminal endeavors, drew a line at betrayal.
Damion Ryan, however, appears to operate by a different code. He embodies a new breed of criminal, one seemingly willing to cross boundaries previously considered inviolable, blurring the lines between profit and potentially, national security.
