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Former Olympic snowboarder caught after years on FBI most wanted list amid $15 million reward
Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder from Canada, was arrested on charges of running a large and violent drug trafficking operation, according to law enforcement officials.
Per AP News, Wedding, 44, was taken into custody after being wanted by the FBI for overseeing a criminal enterprise responsible for smuggling around 60 metric tons of cocaine each year into Los Angeles.
The drugs were allegedly brought into the United States via semitrucks from Mexico. His arrest comes after years of investigation into his activities and the impact of his operation.
Wedding’s criminal activities first came to light following a 2009 arrest when he was caught buying cocaine from an undercover FBI agent. He served time in federal prison but allegedly resumed his criminal dealings after his release.
In March 2025, he was added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list, with a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. He was later charged with attempted murder in connection to a fatal shooting of a federal witness.
Connection to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Per NBC News, authorities believe Wedding may have had ties to Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa cartel, which is believed to have protected him while he operated his drug trafficking business from Mexico. Recent investigations uncovered evidence suggesting Wedding used the cartel to help facilitate his operations.
Mexican authorities recently seized a number of assets linked to Wedding, including dozens of motorcycles valued at $40 million, along with other items such as two Olympic medals and multiple vehicles.
Wedding’s ties to the drug trade reportedly date back to 2008, six years after he represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Law enforcement officials have pointed to his criminal organization’s aggressive tactics and vast resources, noting that Wedding had managed to evade authorities for some time while accumulating wealth through drug sales and money laundering schemes.
Violence and attempts to silence witnesses
According to prosecutors, Wedding’s drug enterprise resorted to extreme violence, including the alleged murder of a federal witness. In a separate indictment, a grand jury accused him of placing a bounty on the witness's head and using a Canadian website to track down the victim and his family.
The witness was reportedly gunned down at a restaurant shortly before he was scheduled to testify against Wedding.
Authorities are expected to provide additional details at a press conference later this week. The investigation into Wedding's activities continues, as officials seek to dismantle the criminal network he is believed to have built after his initial conviction in 2009.