The FBI has placed Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, accusing him of leading a violent transnational drug trafficking organization. Wedding, 44, represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but authorities say he later became a key figure in smuggling massive quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada.
U.S. officials unsealed an indictment in October 2024 charging Wedding with drug trafficking, money laundering, witness intimidation, and murder. According to the Department of Justice, Wedding allegedly oversaw operations that moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine annually, enriching himself through laundered profits while employing violent tactics to protect his enterprise.
The FBI has now raised the reward for information leading to his capture to $15 million, one of the highest ever offered for a fugitive. Authorities believe Wedding is currently hiding in Mexico, continuing to direct criminal activities abroad. His network has been linked to the Sinaloa cartel, and investigators say he ordered assassinations of potential witnesses, including a murder in Medellín, Colombia, earlier this year.
The case has already led to the arrest of at least 10 associates, but Wedding remains at large. U.S. Treasury officials have also imposed sanctions on him and his network, freezing assets tied to his operations.
FBI Director Kash Patel described Wedding as “one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizers in the world,” underscoring the urgency of his capture. The agency continues to coordinate with Canadian and Mexican authorities in hopes of dismantling his criminal enterprise.
Here’s a timeline tracing Ryan Wedding’s journey from Olympic snowboarder to fugitive drug kingpin:
Early Career & Olympic Spotlight
- 2002 – Ryan James Wedding represents Canada at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, competing in the men’s parallel giant slalom.
- Following the Games, Wedding remains active in snowboarding but gradually fades from the competitive spotlight.
Shift Toward Criminal Activity
- 2000s–2010s – Law enforcement later alleges that Wedding begins building connections with organized crime groups, particularly in drug trafficking networks tied to Colombian suppliers and the Sinaloa cartel.
- He reportedly transitions from athlete to trafficker, using his international contacts to facilitate smuggling routes.
Indictments & Escalation
- October 2024 – A U.S. federal grand jury indicts Wedding on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise.
- Authorities accuse him of orchestrating shipments of tons of cocaine annually from Colombia through Mexico into North America.
Violence & Witness Intimidation
- 2025 – Newly unsealed indictments allege Wedding ordered the murder of a federal witness, placing a bounty and posting photos online to track the target.
- His organization is described by U.S. officials as one of the most violent drug cartels in operation, with ties to assassinations and intimidation campaigns.
Fugitive Status
- March 2025 – Wedding is officially added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, becoming one of the most notorious figures pursued by U.S. law enforcement.
- November 2025 – The FBI raises the reward for his capture to $15 million, citing his role as a “modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar”.
Ryan Wedding’s trajectory—from Olympic snowboarder in 2002 to alleged cartel leader by 2025—illustrates a dramatic fall from sports stardom into organized crime. His fugitive status today reflects both the scale of his operations and the violence tied to his network.
Sources: US Department of the Treasury / CBC
