Ex-Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding has landed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. The 43-year-old, who once competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, is accused of orchestrating a transnational drug trafficking operation that smuggled vast amounts of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
The U.S. State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Wedding is also accused of ordering multiple murders to protect his illicit empire, making him one of the most dangerous fugitives at large.
FBI Names Former Olympian Ryan Wedding as a Most Wanted Fugitive
Once a celebrated athlete, Ryan Wedding is now a fugitive linked to a vast narcotics distribution network. According to the FBI, his criminal enterprise smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine between South and North America, using sophisticated smuggling routes to evade authorities.
Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, stated:
“Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada. His involvement in violent crimes, including murder, makes him extremely dangerous.”
Federal authorities launched Operation Giant Slalom, named after Wedding’s former snowboarding event, to track his movements and bring him to justice.
Ryan Wedding’s Drug Empire Linked to Multiple Murders
Wedding’s alleged drug trafficking ring didn’t just operate in secrecy—it enforced its operations with extreme violence. Investigators say he and his second-in-command, Andrew Clark, 34, ordered multiple homicides to protect their interests.
- November 2023 – Two family members were murdered in Ontario over a stolen drug shipment.
- May 18, 2024 – A rival was executed over a drug-related debt.
- September 2024 – A superseding indictment added an attempted murder charge against Wedding and Clark.
Clark was captured by Mexican authorities in October 2024 and was extradited to the U.S. last week along with 29 other fugitives.
How Ryan Wedding’s Drug Operation Worked
Wedding’s network, according to U.S. prosecutors, relied on an advanced Canada-based drug transportation network. The organization allegedly smuggled bulk cocaine shipments from Southern California to Canada, profiting millions in illicit earnings.
Authorities claim that Wedding’s group used:
- Hidden compartments in vehicles to transport drugs across the border.
- Corrupt officials to clear shipments.
- Fake import/export businesses to launder drug money.
Authorities Close in on Ryan Wedding’s Whereabouts
Despite being a fugitive, Wedding remains on the radar of international law enforcement. Investigators believe he is currently hiding in Mexico, but they have not ruled out the possibility that he could be in the United States, Canada, or Central America.
With a $10 million reward on his head, the FBI hopes the public will provide critical information leading to his capture. If convicted, Wedding faces life in federal prison.
“We urge anyone with knowledge of Wedding’s location to come forward. This is a dangerous individual who must be taken off the streets,” an FBI spokesperson stated.
As law enforcement intensifies its search, the world watches to see whether the former Olympic star turned drug kingpin will finally be brought to justice.
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