Latest news with #Kinahans'
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Fugitive narco ex-Olympian ‘linked to Kinahans' has plastic surgery to evade cops
The FBI in Los Angeles believes Ryan Wedding, who has a $10 million US bounty on his head, has changed his appearance The FBI's Wanted poster for Wedding in Spanish Wedding as an athlete and (right) on the run A wanted Olympic athlete-turned-narco trafficker 'with links to the Kinahans' is suspected of having plastic surgery in Mexico in a bid to evade capture. It has been reported that the FBI in Los Angeles believes Ryan Wedding, who has a $10 million US bounty on his head, has spent his time on the run changing his appearance. A major manhunt is underway for the former Olympian snowboarder, who may have gone under the knife to hide his identity. "Investigators believe Wedding may have undergone plastic surgery, particularly since he has financial means," Laura Eimiller, the spokeswoman for the LA FBI field office, told Los Angeles Magazine. "It's not uncommon for high-profile fugitives." The bureau added Wedding, who is also connected with the deadly El Chapo cartel, to its 10 Most Wanted list in March while also making public the US State Department's staggering award offer. Wedding as an athlete and (right) on the run News in 90 Seconds - August 14th It was made just days after one of Wedding's right-hand men was linked to the Kinahan Cartel in documents filed by US attorneys in a Canadian court. Like Wedding, the US government are also offering a reward for the arrest of the Kinahans – with $5m bounty available for information on Christy snr and his two sons Daniel and Christy jnr. Ex-Canadian snowboarder Wedding (43) whose aliases include 'El Jefe" and "the Giant," is accused of running a violent international cocaine trafficking ring that moved 60 tons of cocaine a year from Colombia through Mexico and California to Canada. Federal prosecutors in California's Central District have called his murderous empire one of the 'most sophisticated drug trafficking networks in North America." Before turning to crime, Wedding was a well-known figure in winter sports and had competed in the Parallel Giant Slalom in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics where had finished in 24th place. The FBI's Wanted poster for Wedding in Spanish The FBI is focusing its worldwide manhunt for Wedding in Mexico where it released new 'Most Wanted' posters in Spanish last week. In October 2024, Andrew Clark, a top lieutenant in the massive drug operation and Wedding's reputed right-hand man, was captured near Mexico City a dramatic armed takedown by the Mexican military and Interpol. Clark was extradited to Los Angeles earlier this year and remains in custody at Metropolitan Detention Center. According to Los Angeles Magazine, investigators fear Wedding could kill witnesses while he remains on the loose. 'Prosecutors told a federal judge how Wedding is tied to some of the world's most dangerous co-conspirators, including Hezbollah, ex-KGB agents, Hells Angeles and vicious killers tied to Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who was found guilty in the US on charges related to his own murderous network,' Los Angles Magazine reports. The capture of Wedding's right-hand man Andrew Clark The government was asking the judge for a protective order in the case to protect its witnesses, warning that anyone caught up in "Operation Giant Slalom" who agrees to cut a deal could be in danger. Assistant Director of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office Akil Davis said Wedding was a 'very dangerous man.' 'Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada,'. 'The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man." Wedding has been on the run since he was charged with US officials along with 15 of his key associates last June. During previous bail hearing for one of his alleged gang members, Gurpreet Singh, the Kinahan Cartel were named in a document from federal prosecutors in Los Angeles and filed as evidence in Superior Court in Toronto. US officials told the court that Singh has "extensive organized crime connections within Dubai, including relationships with members of the Kinahan gang, which is a well-known, violent organized crime group operating throughout the world." In the document, assistant US attorneys Maria Jhai and Lyndsi Allsop also claimed Wedding continues to be involved in cocaine smuggling while on the run. "Investigators are aware that Wedding continues to traffic drugs while in hiding. "Wedding should not be granted access to an additional loyalist through the release of Singh on bail." Wedding Last year, shockwaves were sent through the sports world after a warrant was issued for Canadian snowboarder Wedding (43) for allegedly smuggling tons of cocaine into the US through Mexico. Wedding's fall from grace has been big news in the US with extensive profiles on his life of crime being carried in all major newspapers and TV stations. Just like the Kinahans, Wedding has links to some of the world's most infamous drugs cartels and terrorist organisations. They include ex-Russian KGB agents, Hezbollah and the Sinaloa Cartel. A wanted poster for the Kinahans Wedding is said to have had connections to elite Iranian money launderers in Vancouver who have ties to Columbian cartels. Last June, a US grand jury indictment charged Wedding with numerous felonies related to cocaine smuggling. Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Los Angeles division, claimed Wedding's gang were responsible for a wave of crimes. 'They have triggered an avalanche of violent crimes, including brutal murders. 'Wedding, the Olympian snowboarder, went from navigating slopes to contouring a life of incessant crimes.' US officials also directly tied Wedding and his second-in-command, Andrew Clark, to a number of gangland hits. 'Wedding and Clark allegedly directed the November 20, 2023, murders of two members of a family in Ontario, Canada, in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment,' the U.S. Attorney's Office has claimed. Another person was killed in May over an unpaid debt, on Wedding and Clark's orders, it is claimed. The trial for Wedding's associates is currently scheduled to begin in a Little Tokyo courtroom in February 2026, according to a court docket.
Irish Independent
23-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Two men ‘duped' into money laundering for ‘Dublin' crime gang after Sligo company duped out of €39,000
Company was defrauded out of €39,000 with one of the accused told if he didn't co-operate, then three 'Kinahans' would visit his mum Sligo Champion Today at 23:00 TWO men who were 'duped' into money laundering for a criminal organisation appeared before Judge Mary O'Malley Costello on Friday. The men, who did not know one another until their appearances in court, pleaded guiltyto various charges at the circuit court in Sligo on March 18 2025 and the matter was adjourned for sentencing.
Sunday World
09-06-2025
- Sunday World
Murder of Scottish gangsters in Spain could drag Kinahan Cartel into new mob war
Fears that double killing could signal Irish gangsters' involvement in new mob war The pair, who were shot dead in an attack at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol eight days ago, were key figures in the Glasgow-based Lyons crime gang. The Lyons mob formed a close alliance with the Kinahan Cartel through Eddie Jnr's brother, Stephen, who previously lived in Spain and now resides in Dubai, and were suspected of helping the Kinahans coordinate the shipment of €157million of cocaine on board the MV Matthews. Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP and former crime journalist Russell Findlay yesterday told the Sunday World a major concern for StephenLyons at this moment is whether the Kinahans may have, in fact, sanctioned the hit. The scene at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol where Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were gunned down 'We already know the Kinahans' involvement in the Scottish drug trade is significant,' he said. 'Their connections with the Lyons have fuelled gangland violence in Scotland and escalated it over the years. 'In the paranoid world of organised crime, there is a lot of smoke and mirrors, a lot of speculation, but what I suppose this boils down to, is either the Kinahans have had a hand in these murders due to some unknown internal fallout or they have seen two of their allies gunned down in cold blood. 'If it is the latter, then the expectation would be there will be some kind of retribution. 'If I was in Stephen Lyons' shoes, living my luxury air-conditioned lifestyle in Dubai, I would be seeking a meeting with the Kinahans at the earliest possible opportunity to work out who has been responsible for this. . 'But the real fear now is this will only fuel gangland violence, not just in Spain, but also in the streets of Scotland.' In the immediate aftermath of the double assassination at Monaghan's bar, speculation immediately connected the killings to a feud between the Lyons and the rival Daniel gang in Scotland. An escalation in that feud has resulted in assaults, shootings and fire-bombings across Glasgow and Edinburgh in recent months. However, a Lyons family member subsequently discounted this theory, while a statement by Police Scotland said there is 'nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland'. Ross Monaghan Spanish police are instead understood to be focussed on the likelihood the murders are linked to wider gangland tensions – and are making inquiries to determine what if any stance the Kinahans had taken on the killings. Lyons (46), and Monaghan (43) died when a gunman opened fire on them in the Fuengirola bar – where the pair had watched the Champions League final, at about 11pm on the night of the killings.# The gunman then fled the scene in a car. Sources say the Daniel gang had shied away from making any moves against the Lyons in Spain due to their connections with the Kinahan mob and believe it unlikely their attitude would have changed sufficiently for involvement in the double killing likely. Outlining the background to the Kinahan's alliance with the Lyons and the effect this had on their feud with the Daniel gang, our source referred to a triple shooting in Scotland that occurred at an MOT station in the Lambhill area of the city in 2006. Gangsters Eddie Lyons Jnr In that shooting, Stephen Lyons was badly wounded, as was his associate Robert Pickett, while Stephen's cousin Michael Lyons was shot dead. A source said: 'Going way back, there was a triple shooting in Glasgow at an MOT station, Stephen was shot, his cousin Michael was murdered, and a third man Pickett was shot. backlash 'That resulted in Stephen fleeing to Spain. And it was that, fleeing to Spain, that was either the catalyst for the Kinahan connection being made or that made it bigger than it had already been. 'At that point, some Daniel gang-related associate was in the Costa del Sol and ascertained the Lyons were close to the Kinahans and took the view that they could not make a move on them in Spain. 'They could not make a move against Stephen in Spain. Russell Findlay 'So, if the Daniel gang took the view that was too big a move or that the backlash would be too big back then, it would be consistent with them not having the wherewithal to do it now.' The source said Stephen Lyons is the only member remaining out of the youth gang from which he, Michael and Eddie Jnr emerged. 'The rest are either dead or in prison,' he said. Asked if Stephen Lyons has anything to fear from his long-term allies, the Kinahans, the source responded: 'These people have absolutely no qualms about putting a knife between the shoulder blades of their best friends if it suits them. 'There's no loyalty and there's a paranoia that envelopes everything they do. So, it would be premature to assume the Kinahans are on a war footing over this to avenge the Lyons murders when for all we know they could have been responsible for it.' In their statement released on Tuesday, Police Scotland said they were not directly investigating the double murder. Instead they said: 'The investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police,' it said. 'Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested; however at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain. 'There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge. 'Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country.'
