A former Olympic snowboarder has landed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. Ryan Wedding, 43, is accused of leading a drug cartel that smuggled large amounts of Colombian cocaine from Mexico into the U.S. and Canada.
Wedding, originally from Thunder Bay, Canada, was officially added to the FBI’s list this past Thursday, replacing alleged child rapist Alexis Flores. Currently, he is believed to be hiding in Mexico, under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel. The FBI claims he operates a major narcotics trafficking network, moving tons of cocaine across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Known by several nicknames, including “El Jefe” and “Public Enemy,” Wedding has also been implicated in multiple murders. One case involved the tragic deaths of a Canadian couple in 2023, resulting from mistaken identity.
This marks a dramatic shift from Wedding’s past as an athlete. He competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom event.
FBI officials expressed shock at his transformation. Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, noted the stark contrast between Wedding’s former life as an Olympic athlete and his current status as a drug lord.
Matthew Allen from the Drug Enforcement Administration emphasized the serious impact Wedding has had, calling his actions an “avalanche of death and destruction.” Officials are now intensifying their efforts to find him, considering him extremely dangerous. They are offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture.
The U.S. State Department is also contributing a separate reward of $50,000, reflecting their commitment to keeping communities safe from drug trafficking and related violence.
After his Olympic career, Wedding took a bouncer job at Simon Fraser University, which is believed to be where he first became involved in criminal activities. In 2004, police investigated him for suspected marijuana cultivation, though he was never charged. He later faced a conviction in 2010 for attempting to buy cocaine, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.
In 2024, Wedding was indicted as the primary suspect in a drug trafficking operation along with 15 others. He allegedly worked closely with another Canadian, Andrew Clarke, to transport cocaine using trucks and stash houses. Their group has also been linked to numerous shootings in the Peel Region, part of Greater Toronto.
As it stands, if convicted, Wedding could face life in federal prison for his actions. Authorities have made it clear that they are determined to bring him to justice.
Check out this related article: Exploring Public Perspectives: What Changes to Medicaid Mean for You | KFF Insights
Source link