DEA Administrator Terrance Cole on the Capture of Ryan Wedding
Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • Leadership
    • History
    • Divisions
      • Domestic Divisions
      • Foreign Divisions
      • Operational Divisions
    • DEA Museum
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
      • Submit a Tip
      • Extortion Scam
      • Public Affairs
      • Social Media Directory
  • What We Do
    • Forensic Sciences
      • GUARDS
      • Forensic Sciences Policy
      • Forensic Science Organizations
      • Forensic Science Contact
    • Law Enforcement
      • DEA Office of Training
        • Office of Training Programs
      • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
      • Intelligence
      • Operations
        • Administrative Law Judges
        • DEA Asset Forfeiture
        • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
        • HIDTA
        • OCDETF
    • Education and Prevention
      • Family Summit
      • Red Ribbon
      • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
      • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
      • DEA’s Family Summit
      • Operation Engage
      • Community Outreach
      • Just Think Twice
      • Campus Drug Prevention
      • Get Smart About Drugs
      • Operation Prevention
    • Drug Information
      • Drug Policy
      • Drug Scheduling
      • The Controlled Substances Act
    • News
      • Alerts
      • Press Releases
      • Most Wanted Fugitives
        • All Fugitives
      • Stories
      • Events
      • Speeches
      • Testimony
    • Campaigns
      • One Pill Can Kill
        • Senior Citizens
        • Partner Toolbox
        • Social Media Campaign
      • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
      • Special Agent FAQs
    • Diversion Investigator
      • Diversion Investigator Job Announcement
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
      • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
      • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
      • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • Employment Eligibility
    • How to Apply
      • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
      • Priority Consideration
      • Benefits
      • Veterans and People With Disabilities
      • Operation Warfighter
  • Resources
    • Cartels
    • Illegal Online Pharmacies
    • OD Justice
    • Fentanyl Supply Chain
    • Pill Press Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Together for Families
    • Data and Statistics
      • Domestic Arrests
      • Staffing and Budget
    • FOIA
      • About FOIA
      • Contact DEA FOIA
      • Make a Request
      • What Happens After Making a Request
      • Requester Categories
      • Fees Charged
      • Fee Waiver
      • FOIA FAQ
      • FOIA Logs and Reports
      • FOIA Library
      • Additional FOIA Links
      • FOIA Exemptions
      • What Are Exclusions?
      • Privacy Act
      • Privacy Act Exemptions
      • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
      • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources
      • Human Trafficking Prevention

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
  • Full Menu
  • English
  • Español

Main Menu

Explore DEA
  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • Leadership
    • History
    • Divisions
    • DEA Museum
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Law Enforcement
    • Education and Prevention
    • Drug Information
    • News
    • Campaigns
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • Employment Eligibility
    • How to Apply
  • Resources
    • Cartels
    • Illegal Online Pharmacies
    • OD Justice
    • Fentanyl Supply Chain
    • Pill Press Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Together for Families
    • Data and Statistics
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
  • Submit A Tip
DEA Administrator Remarks

DEA Administrator Terrance Cole on the Capture of Ryan Wedding

January 23, 2026
|
DEA Administrator
|
Download Document

"Multiple agencies and jurisdictions poured their blood, sweat, and tears into dismantling the Wedding Drug Trafficking Organization, and today we have successfully removed the head of the snake.

As the leader of a violent transnational drug trafficking organization, Ryan Wedding oversaw operations spanning from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada. 

This case exposes a hard truth; the Mexican cartels are working with Canadian criminal organizations to fuel a deadly pipeline across North America - driving overdoses, violence, and addiction on both sides of the border.  

Today’s apprehension was made possible by the tireless efforts of numerous agencies including the FBI who led this investigation with the assistance of DEA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Central District California, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  I also can’t stress enough the invaluable cross-border collaboration with the Government of Mexico and am deeply grateful to our hard-working law enforcement partners in Mexico, Colombia and Canada who played a significant role in Wedding’s return to the United States to face justice for his callous, greed-driven crimes."

Administrator Terrance Cole

 

Prior Press Releases:

Former Olympian Wanted for Running Transnational Drug Enterprise and Ordering Several Murders Added to FBI’s List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives

16 Defendants Charged in Superseding Indictment Alleging Bulk Shipments of Cocaine to Canada, Four Murders

  • Press conference for wedding apprehension

    From left to right: DEA Associate Chief of Operations, Brian Clark; US Customs and Border Protection Port Director, Oscar Acuna; FBI Director, Kash Patel; Assistant Director in Charge of FBI Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis; Los Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Alan Hamilton; Los Angeles Chief of Police Jim McDonnell; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner, Michael Duheme. 

    Download Original Image

    From left to right: DEA Associate Chief of Operations, Brian Clark; US Customs and Border Protection Port Director, Oscar Acuna; FBI Director, Kash Patel; Assistant Director in Charge of FBI Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis; Los Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Alan Hamilton; Los Angeles Chief of Police Jim McDonnell; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner, Michael Duheme. 

  • Ryan Wedding Captured Poster

    Courtesy of FBI. 

    Download Original Image

    Courtesy of FBI. 

  • Top 10 Most Wanted fugitive, Ryan Wedding

    Ryan Wedding. Photo courtesy of FBI. 

    Download Original Image

    Ryan Wedding. Photo courtesy of FBI. 

  • drug exhibit seizure photo

    Drug Seizure. Photo courtesy of FBI.

    Download Original Image

    Drug Seizure. Photo courtesy of FBI.

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Law Enforcement
    • Drug Prevention
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
    • How to Apply
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
    • Vendor Engagement Request
  • Policies
    • Accessibility & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
    • Your Rights as a Federal Employee

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000
Contact the Webmaster