Former Olympic Snowboarder Turned Alleged Drug Kingpin Arrested in Mexico, FBI Says
A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder accused of running a massive transnational drug trafficking organization has been arrested in Mexico after more than a decade on the run, according to U.S. federal authorities.
Ryan James Wedding, 44, was taken into custody Thursday night, FBI Director Kash Patel announced. Authorities allege Wedding became a senior figure in the Sinaloa Cartel and spent years operating from Mexico while overseeing a sprawling cocaine trafficking network stretching from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California into the United States and Canada.
“He went from an Olympic snowboarder to the largest narco-trafficker in modern times,” Patel said at a news conference. “He is a modern-day El Chapo, he is a modern-day Pablo Escobar, and he thought he could evade justice.”
Wedding had been placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in March, with a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.
Alleged Cartel Role and Cocaine Pipeline
Federal officials allege Wedding was responsible for moving hundreds of kilograms of cocaine across international borders and that his organization shipped approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine through Southern California alone. Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said Wedding is also accused of orchestrating multiple murders, including killings of government witnesses.
“We told you in November we would find Mr. Wedding. And today that day has arrived,” Davis told reporters.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Wedding was flown to the United States and will face prosecution in federal court.
“Director Patel has worked tirelessly to bring fugitives to justice,” Bondi said. “We are grateful to our incredible Ambassador Ron Johnson and the Mexican authorities for assisting us in this case.”
Wedding is scheduled to make his first U.S. court appearance on Monday.
Witness Killing and Violent Enforcement
Court documents allege that Wedding ordered the murder of a federal witness who was preparing to testify against him. Authorities say he placed a bounty on the witness and used a Canadian website to track down both the witness and his wife. The witness was later fatally shot at a restaurant, according to prosecutors. A grand jury indictment unsealed in November formally charged Wedding in connection with the killing.
From Olympian to Federal Inmate to Alleged Cartel Leader
Wedding represented Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Federal prosecutors say his criminal activity began years later.
According to court records:
In 2008, Wedding allegedly traveled to San Diego to purchase cocaine with two other men.
The drug dealer they planned to meet was actually working undercover for the FBI.
Wedding was arrested, convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and sentenced to 48 months in federal prison following a 2009 trial.
He was released in December 2011.
Federal law enforcement now alleges that Wedding founded and expanded his criminal enterprise after his release, ultimately becoming a major trafficking figure tied to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Massive Seizures and Ongoing Manhunt
Authorities say the investigation has led to:
36 arrests tied to Wedding’s organization
19 individuals sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department
Seizure of:
2,300+ kilograms of cocaine
44 kilograms of methamphetamine
44 kilograms of fentanyl
Eight firearms
More than $55 million in illicit assets
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said the scale of the operation reflects one of the most significant drug trafficking cases in recent years. Last month, Mexican authorities also seized dozens of motorcycles worth an estimated $40 million, which Wedding allegedly owned. Additional seizures in Mexico City included:
Two Olympic medals
Two vehicles
Drugs
Artwork and other luxury items
Case Still Expanding
Federal officials said they are still pursuing multiple additional suspects. The U.S. State Department is offering a $2 million reward for information leading to further arrests connected to the organization. Wedding now faces a sweeping set of federal charges, including attempted murder and major narcotics trafficking offenses, marking the dramatic fall of an athlete once celebrated on the world stage now accused of becoming one of the most powerful alleged drug traffickers of his generation.
