FBI Seizes Gang News Site in “Operation Giant Slalom”

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FBI Seizes “The Dirty Newz” Website in Operation Targeting Alleged Drug Trafficker Ryan Wedding

The FBI, in a coordinated operation dubbed “Giant Slalom,” has seized the website “The Dirty Newz,” alleging it served as a critical asset for the criminal enterprise of Ryan Wedding. This seizure highlights law enforcement’s evolving tactics in targeting digital infrastructure used by organized crime. Attribution confidence: High.

The Attack

The seizure of thedomain “thedirtynewz.com” was executed by US authorities and Canadian partners. The site now displays a seizure banner from the US Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). This action suggests the website was more than just a news blog; law enforcement now considers it a direct asset and tool of the criminal organization.

The Actors

Ryan Wedding, the primary target of Operation Giant Slalom, is a former Olympic athlete. He is now on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list, with the US Department of State offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture. Authorities allege Wedding heads a transnational organization that smuggles approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually from South America through Mexico and the US into Canada. He is believed to be closely affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel and uses aliases like “El Jefe” and “Giant.”

The Fallout

The seizure was facilitated by the fact that the domain was a .com address, managed by the US-based Verisign, which made it easier for US authorities to access. The domain registrar, Domain.com, is also based in the US and cooperated with the FBI, as the nameservers are now pointing to FBI-controlled servers. Status codes such as “serverTransferProhibited” and “serverUpdateProhibited” indicate that the registrar has frozen the domain. The exact role “The Dirty Newz” played within the criminal operation is still under investigation, though its seizure as an asset strongly suggests it was used for communication, coordination, or influence.

Financial Impact

According to the indictment, Wedding and his associates laundered approximately $250 million between April and September 2024. These transactions primarily utilized cryptocurrencies, especially the stablecoin USDT.

Law Enforcement Actions

Operation Giant Slalom has led to numerous arrests, including Atna Onha, known as “Tupac,” in Montreal. Onha, considered a close associate of Wedding, is accused of involvement in logistics and murder plots, with the US seeking his extradition. The investigation links the organization to at least four murders, including the mistaken-identity shooting of an innocent couple in Ontario in November 2023.

Cryptocurrency Laundering and Threema Exploitation

The investigation revealed that the criminal organization extensively used cryptocurrencies for financial transactions, highlighting the vulnerabilities of digital currencies to money laundering. The organization used Threema for secure communications. Rather than trying to directly compromise Threema’s encryption, investigators leveraged an insider – a long-time drug dealer who had previously worked with Wedding – to infiltrate the group’s communications. This allowed them to monitor the coordination of drug shipments and the planning of murders.

Cybercrime Economics

Estimated Laundered Funds: $250 million (USD) in just six months
Primary Laundering Method: Cryptocurrency, particularly USDT
Digital Infrastructure Seized: “The Dirty Newz” website, a domain.
Average Costs for Authorities: Seizure costs are significant but not precisely quantified. They include investigative labor, legal fees, and operational expenses.
Expected Impact: Disruption of communications and financial networks. The investigation is ongoing.

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