Case Overview - Ryan Wedding, a former Olympian, is accused of running a massive cocaine trafficking operation and orchestrating multiple murders [1] - Wedding has been a fugitive for over a year and is on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list [2] - The DOJ announced additional charges and unsealed indictments against Wedding, focusing on the murder of a witness [2][4] Legal and Law Enforcement Actions - The case has escalated with new charges including witness tampering, intimidation, and murder, in addition to drug trafficking [4] - An arrest was made related to the killing of a cooperating witness, linking Wedding to the crime as part of a criminal conspiracy [5] - The prosecution could lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty for interfering with a federal witness [5][6] - The reward for Wedding's capture has been increased from $10 million to $15 million [2][10] Drug Trafficking Operation - The operation is considered the largest criminal drug trafficking conspiracy in the nation, involving an international organization [7] - Approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine are allegedly trafficked into Los Angeles via Mexico annually [8] - The weight of the cocaine is equivalent to 40 standard cars [8] - The government aims to prosecute everyone involved in the conspiracy, with Wedding viewed as the mastermind [6][7] International Cooperation - The case requires international cooperation between the Mexican, Canadian, and United States governments and law enforcement agencies to apprehend Wedding [10] - Increasing the reward to $15 million reflects the danger the DOJ associates with Wedding, considering allegations of murder and attempted murder to protect the organization [10][11] - The increased reward and publicity aim to encourage public tips and resources to aid in Wedding's capture [12]

At least three people were killed on Saturday in the latest strike carried out by the US on a boat allegedly carrying drugs. That's according to the United States Southern Command who posted this video to social media. The military said the boat was traveling through a known narco trafficking route in the eastern Pacific Ocean carrying narcotics.The administration has not provided any evidence supporting its allegations about the vessel or who was on board. It is the 21st strike on an alleged drug boat carr ...

RT Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra)A group of Muslims in New York City say they are not voting for Zohran Mamdani, warning that his plan to legalize prostitution will lead to a surge in child, human, and drug trafficking.They accuse Mamdani of being a political chameleon, an actor who switches between being Muslim one day and Hindu the next, claiming he stands for nothing and no one. ...

By the end of Tuesday, hooded agents triumphantly brought out 81 suspects, dozens of rifles and 200kg of drugs. They left behind a grisly haul in the nearby river and rainforest: scores of young, male and mostly black corpses https://t.co/1RygtVY0Cn ...

Geopolitical Risk & US Foreign Policy - The US administration is considering military strikes against Venezuela, allegedly targeting drug trafficking operations run by President Maduro, with potential land strikes being imminent [1][2][6] - The administration's justification for military actions against drug trafficking is inconsistent, initially focusing on fentanyl but now appearing to target cocaine, with experts questioning the administration's strategy [3][4] - There is a lack of congressional authorization and transparency regarding potential military actions in Venezuela, raising concerns about regime change by presidential fiat [16][18][19] - The shift in US policy towards Venezuela, from negotiation to regime change, is attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, raising questions about the extent of President Trump's direct involvement [10] - The administration has lowered the bar for lethal actions, potentially leading to increased civilian casualties and extrajudicial killings [33] Allegations & Evidence - The administration claims that Venezuela exports approximately 500 tons of cocaine annually to Europe and the United States [2] - The administration alleges that Venezuelan military bases are being used for drug trafficking, but there is no evidence presented to Congress to support this claim [26][27] - There are allegations of endemic corruption within the Maduro regime, but the claim that Maduro is directly running a drug cartel is disputed [28] Potential Outcomes - The US military actions could be a bluff to pressure the Maduro government or a prelude to war [15] - The US has a history of unsuccessful attempts to instigate military coups in other countries [25]

Legality of Military Actions - The report questions the legality of U S military strikes against alleged drug traffickers without congressional authorization [3][5][11] - Senator Rand Paul and Congressman Jim Himes have not seen evidence supporting the administration's claims that those targeted are narco-terrorists [7][9] - The Trump administration expanded strikes against alleged drug traffickers, killing 14 people in attacks on multiple boats off Mexico's Pacific coast [6] - Senator Lindsey Graham believes the President has the authority for these actions and welcomes a debate on the issue [15] Potential Misuse of Military Assets - There are concerns that military assets are being deployed for purely performative reasons, rather than effectively interdicting drugs [4][5] - Congressman Jim Himes suggests military assets could be better used to save lives in Jamaica, which is facing devastation [6] - The shift of military assets to humanitarian aid could help alleviate the gutting of USAID [19][21] Political and Ethical Implications - The White House believes the operations are popular with American voters and may not need congressional approval [14] - There are concerns about the potential for abuse if the government can take lethal action without oversight, raising questions about where such actions might stop [12][13] - The discussion highlights the potential dangers of setting a precedent where the government can kill people illegally based on public support [17][18] Impact of Government Shutdown - The government shutdown is impacting the ability to respond to international crises, as USAID has been significantly reduced [19][21] - The shutdown is also affecting essential services like air traffic control, as federal employees are not being paid [23][24]

So this morning, Pete Hagth said that the US had struck an additional four alleged drug boats, this time in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. That brings the death toll of these missile strikes up to 57 people. And those strikes are all over the news here where I am in Bogotaa, Colombia.Because on top of that, over the weekend, Senator Lindsey Graham said that missile strikes on land were likely now, not only in Venezuela next door, but also here in Colombia. Now, I'm from here. I grew up here. I was born and rais ...

Growing concerns about how far the Trump administration may go in its military actions against alleged drug traffickers in Venezuela. The administration dramatically escalated the military presence in the region by deploying the largest aircraft carrier in the fleet to the waters of South America. This after the US destroyed a 10th boat on Friday.The administration has provided no proof of its claims that this and the other targeted vessels were trafficking narcotics. Joining me now, retired first-star gene ...

US Foreign Policy & Geopolitical Tensions - The US administration is increasing military presence in the Caribbean, deploying the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier strike group, nearly doubling US forces [2] - The US accuses Venezuelan President Maduro of drug trafficking, which Maduro denies [2] - The US views Venezuela as a hub of terrorist activity in the Western Hemisphere [2] - The US sanctioned Colombian President Petro, accusing him of flooding the US with drugs [5] - Maduro claims Venezuela possesses over 5,000 Russian missiles along its coast [4] Drug Trafficking & Security - The US campaign aims to stop drugs from entering the US by sea and land [1] - The Pentagon reports 43 people killed in at least 10 strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs [3] - The US considers addressing the situation in Venezuela as a national security issue [3]

President Trump says the US military struck another boat alleged to be trafficking drugs off the coast of Venezuela, killing six people on board. https://t.co/yra550YY81 ...