Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, is now wanted by the FBI on serious charges, including murder and drug trafficking. Wedding, who is 43 years old, became the subject of an FBI wanted notice issued this week, with authorities offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
According to the FBI’s notice, Wedding is alleged to have played a key role in a large-scale international drug trafficking operation. The organization he was involved with is accused of routinely shipping hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, and into Canada, as well as distributing the drugs to other locations within the United States.
The FBI also claims that Wedding was instrumental in orchestrating multiple murders to further the interests of this drug trafficking ring.
Wedding’s criminal activities have led to a federal arrest warrant being issued on September 17, 2024, in Los Angeles. He faces five major charges: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to export cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise, murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crimes, and an attempt to commit murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise.
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The scope of the operation Wedding is allegedly tied to is staggering. According to reports from the Associated Press, the drug ring, involving 16 individuals, is believed to have trafficked around 60 tons of cocaine per year. While many members of the ring have been arrested, Wedding remains one of four individuals who are still at large.
Wedding is no stranger to legal trouble. In 2015, he faced separate drug trafficking charges in Canada, and in 2010, he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, for which he served prison time. Following his release, authorities believe that Wedding resumed his involvement in the drug trade, operating under the protection of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
Before his descent into the world of crime, Wedding was an accomplished athlete. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, he represented Canada in the men’s snowboarding slalom event, finishing in 24th place. However, his promising sports career took a dark turn, as he has since become embroiled in criminal enterprises.
The FBI is now actively seeking information on Wedding’s whereabouts, urging the public to come forward with any leads. The extensive charges against him point to his significant role in one of the largest drug trafficking operations in North America, along with accusations of violent crimes committed in furtherance of those illegal activities.
His case highlights the dramatic fall of a former Olympic athlete who traded his promising future for a life of crime.
