A Vancouver man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a drug smuggling operation linked to former Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding. Rasheed Pascua Hossain, 33, was captured by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Vancouver, according to an update from the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. An arrest warrant for Hossain was issued on October 28, following charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to export cocaine, and conspiracy to launder money.

Hossain's arrest comes shortly after the FBI announced that seven other Canadians had been charged in connection with the same drug trafficking ring. The FBI describes Wedding as a significant figure in the drug trade, comparing him to notorious drug lords like Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Pablo Escobar. Wedding is currently on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is believed to be hiding in Mexico.

U.S. authorities allege that under Wedding's direction, his organization traffics approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, "He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world," and claimed that Wedding is the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada.

The FBI has increased the reward for information leading to Wedding's capture to $15 million. They are also seeking information regarding the murder of a potential witness in Medellin, Colombia, last January, which they believe is connected to Wedding's operations.

Hossain's extradition to the United States will depend on Canadian courts, which will review any requests made by U.S. authorities. The investigation, known as Operation Giant Slalom, continues to unfold as law enforcement agencies pursue additional suspects linked to Wedding's criminal enterprise. Other individuals arrested in connection with the investigation include Gursewak Singh Bal, 31, and Deepak Balwant Paradkar, 62, among others. The FBI has seized a website associated with Bal, which allegedly was used to facilitate the drug operation and locate witnesses.

As the investigation progresses, authorities remain focused on dismantling the network surrounding Wedding and his associates, aiming to curb the flow of cocaine into North America.