A massive drug trafficking investigation has led to the arrest of music executive Nahim Jorge Bonilla, also known as “Nahhim” and “The One,” after the FBI raided his Aventura Florida mansion on Wednesday morning. The high-profile bust took place at Bonilla’s residence, located in the exclusive Island Estates community, and is part of a broader federal probe into a transnational drug trafficking conspiracy involving large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.
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According to federal authorities, Bonilla, the owner of South Beach’s popular restaurant Mandrake, has been indicted on multiple charges connected to a drug trafficking ring responsible for distributing large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine across North America.
At a press conference held on Thursday, the FBI revealed more details about the indictment, which names 16 individuals involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Of those, 12 have been arrested, with Bonilla among them. Authorities explained that the criminal organization was one of the largest suppliers of cocaine, moving massive amounts of the drug between Mexico, Colombia, Canada, and the United States.
“They were one of the largest suppliers of cocaine to Canada and into the United States,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California E. Martin Estrada. The indictment outlines that Bonilla conspired with two co-defendants—Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, and Andrew Clark—to traffic over five kilograms of cocaine and at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.
The indictment, which spans 53 pages, describes how Bonilla’s alleged drug operations began in January 2024 and continued until August 2024. It claims that Bonilla received around 12 kilograms of cocaine through a middleman, with payment arrangements allowing him to pay for seven kilograms upon delivery while being fronted the remaining five kilograms.
Disturbingly, the indictment also alleges that Bonilla received threats regarding his mother’s safety if he failed to settle his drug-related debts. Authorities further claim that Bonilla used cryptocurrency to facilitate payments tied to the drug trafficking network.
While Bonilla is currently being held at a federal detention center in Miami, co-conspirator Ryan James Wedding remains at large. The 43-year-old former Olympic athlete is believed to be the mastermind behind the drug trafficking operation. According to the FBI, Wedding was operating out of Mexico and played a key role in the organization’s distribution of cocaine throughout North America.
“This criminal enterprise was extremely prolific and ruthless,” said Estrada during the press conference. “They moved on average 60 tons of cocaine per year.” Estrada also described the group as violent, stating that the syndicate didn’t hesitate to use deadly force against anyone who got in their way.
FBI officials have placed Wedding on their Most Wanted List and are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The investigation is far from over, with authorities now linking the criminal enterprise to at least four murders. FBI Special Agent Krysti Hawkins confirmed that the organization cultivated a violent transnational drug trafficking empire, stretching from Canada to Colombia, and used brutal tactics, including murder, to protect their operation.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to dismantle the network that Bonilla and his co-conspirators allegedly built. For now, Bonilla is behind bars, but the FBI is still searching for Wedding, believed to be the mastermind of the operation.
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