From Olympic slopes to law enforcement radar, Ryan James Wedding’s story takes a shocking turn.
At a Glance
- Narcotics and murder charges overshadow former Olympic glory.
- The FBI included Wedding on its Most Wanted list, offering a $50,000 reward.
- Wedding’s alleged drug empire spans from Colombia to Canada.
- Convictions from the past predict a repeating pattern of illicit activities.
From Podium to Most Wanted
Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian Olympian once known for his snowboarding talent, now faces severe charges for his alleged drug trafficking and murder activities. Wedding, who showed promise during the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, has allegedly traded his training routines for leading a notorious drug syndicate. The FBI now seeks him for organizing cocaine shipments from Colombia via Mexico and California to Canada. His involvement reportedly includes several murders linked to his illicit activities.
The extensive FBI efforts to capture Wedding highlight the gravity of his alleged crimes. Eleven others face similar charges, part of a sprawling network possibly underpinned by notorious cartels. Wedding’s criminal activities reportedly resumed post-2010 conviction and incarceration, facilitated by ties with the Sinaloa Cartel. His operations allegedly involved substantial cocaine shipments across the Americas.
Ryan Wedding, who represented Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics has been charged with allegedly operating a drug trafficking ring that shipped hundreds of pounds of cocaine through Southern California. https://t.co/F1LyKkjVeA
— KTVU (@KTVU) October 18, 2024
A String of Indictments
Wedding, now 43, along with Andrew Clark, faces several charges in a California indictment, including conspiracy and murder linked to drug crimes. Their network allegedly orchestrated killings in Ontario over a botched drug deal. These serious charges are part of an 8-count indictment, which could result in life imprisonment if they are convicted. Meanwhile, law enforcement swooped in to arrest twelve suspects in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia.
Despite his prior U.S. conviction for cocaine distribution conspiracy in 2010, Wedding allegedly resumed transnational drug operations thereafter. Now believed to be residing in Mexico, he utilizes aliases such as El Jefe and Giant. Law enforcement’s persistent focus includes searching not only for Wedding but also for accomplices—three remain fugitives in this multi-national investigation.
Global Implications and Ongoing Efforts
This drug trafficking operation has prompted substantial law enforcement and intelligence coordination across multiple countries. Seized assets reveal the operation’s scale, with over a ton of cocaine, substantial cash reserves, and millions in cryptocurrency. This staggering haul underscores the persistent battle against transnational drug proliferation authorities face while simultaneously contesting associated violence.
