FBI Targets ’Modern-Day Escobar’ in Crypto-Linked Crime Syndicate
The US Department of Justice unsealed charges against Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic medalist turned alleged narcotics kingpin, for operating a transnational criminal enterprise using cryptocurrency. The FBI has escalated its manhunt with a $15M bounty, comparing his operations to Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel.
Wedding's network allegedly spans narcotics, arms smuggling, and human trafficking across continents, leveraging crypto for illicit financing. FBI Director Kash Patel stated the takedown of 10+ operatives marks a critical blow to the organization, calling it 'a modern iteration of El Chapo's Sinaloa cartel.'