The FBI has apprehended a man from Vancouver in connection with an alleged drug smuggling operation linked to Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who is currently a fugitive. Rasheed Pascua Hossain was arrested following the announcement of charges against seven other Canadians involved in the intercontinental drug smuggling ring.
According to the FBI, Hossain was subject to a federal arrest warrant last month for charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine, conspiracy to export cocaine, and conspiracy to launder money.
While the B.C. RCMP spokesperson could not confirm the location of Hossain’s arrest, reports indicate he is now in custody.
Ryan Wedding, who is on the FBI’s most wanted list and believed to be evading authorities in Mexico, has drawn comparisons to the infamous Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar by U.S. law enforcement.
It is important to note that the allegations against Wedding and his associates have not yet been tested in Canadian courts, which will have jurisdiction over any extradition requests.