Former Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding, once celebrated for his snowboarding career, has been arrested in Mexico after a decade-long run as an alleged cocaine kingpin tied to the Sinaloa Cartel. His flamboyant lifestyle and vast fortune, built on trafficking, have now come to a dramatic halt.
Ryan James Wedding, 44, represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, competing in the men’s parallel giant slalom. Though he placed 24th, his athletic career gave way to a far darker path. Authorities allege Wedding became a central figure in a transnational cocaine pipeline, moving hundreds of kilograms from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada.
Eccentric Lifestyle and Fortune
Investigators describe Wedding’s years in hiding as marked by lavish excess. He reportedly lived in luxury villas across Mexico, traveled with armed bodyguards, and indulged in high-end cars and private parties. His fortune, amassed through drug proceeds and laundered assets, is believed to have reached tens of millions of dollars. U.S. officials compared him to notorious figures like El Chapo and Pablo Escobar, underscoring his influence in the cartel world.
Arrest in Mexico City
Ryan Wedding’s downfall came last week when he was arrested in Mexico City after more than a decade evading capture. He was swiftly extradited to California, where he faces charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and alleged involvement in multiple murders linked to cartel operations. The FBI had placed him on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, and U.S. Treasury sanctions had already targeted his network.
A Fall from Grace
Once a promising athlete, Wedding’s transformation into a cartel boss highlights the stark contrast between his Olympic past and criminal present. His arrest marks the end of a flamboyant chapter in Mexico’s underworld, leaving behind a cautionary tale of ambition, excess, and ultimate downfall.
Source: NBC News
