Former Olympic snowboarder leads murderous drug cartel – FBI searches for fugitive
A former Olympic snowboarder, Ryan James Wedding, is now a fugitive wanted by the FBI for orchestrating a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking ring, responsible for brutal murders and massive cocaine shipments across North America.
Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been accused of orchestrating a vast drug trafficking operation involving cocaine shipments across North America. Wedding, who participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, allegedly transitioned from an elite athlete to a drug lord, running an operation that smuggled massive amounts of cocaine and hired hitmen to eliminate rivals. Now, wanted by the FBI, Wedding faces charges of drug trafficking, murder, and attempted murder, as federal agents continue their investigation.
The FBI has issued a federal arrest warrant for Wedding, who is believed to be hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel. His organization, the Wedding Drug Trafficking Organization, operated a multi-million-dollar business that trafficked drugs from Colombia through Mexico to the United States and Canada. Federal authorities have seized tons of cocaine and millions in cryptocurrency, but Wedding remains at large. Law enforcement is offering up to a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
Former Olympian charged with drug trafficking, ordering killings. Photo: Los Angeles Times.
The rise and fall of Ryan James Wedding
Once a rising star in the snowboarding world, Ryan James Wedding is now infamous for his role in a violent drug syndicate. Wedding's career took a dramatic turn after his Olympic appearance in 2002. Authorities allege that he became the mastermind behind a cocaine trafficking network that spanned several countries. His organization moved massive quantities of cocaine, using long-haul trucks and intricate networks to transport drugs from Colombia through Mexico to California, and ultimately, Canada.
According to federal investigators, the Wedding Drug Trafficking Organization is responsible for a series of brutal murders. Wedding's group used violence as a means of maintaining control and eliminating those who interfered with their operations. The victims were often killed in cold blood, with some shot execution-style, including a case where two parents were murdered in front of their young daughter. The FBI claims that Wedding orchestrated these murders to maintain his drug empire's dominance.
Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding wanted in U.S. cocaine trafficking case. Photo: NPR.
Ongoing investigation and reward for information
As the FBI intensifies its search, Wedding's aliases, including "El Jefe" and "Giant," have made him a notorious figure in the drug trafficking world. Federal agents have seized millions of dollars in cash and cryptocurrency linked to the operation, alongside large quantities of cocaine and firearms. Despite the extensive efforts of law enforcement, Wedding remains on the run, with a reward being offered for any information leading to his capture.
The organization Wedding and Clark are accused of running "resorted to violence, including multiple murders, to achieve its aims," the FBI said in the news release. According to the superseding indictment, the pair ordered two members of an Ontario family killed in November 2023 "in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment," the FBI said. A third family member survived the shooting but sustained serious injuries. They also allegedly ordered one person to be killed in May 2024 over a drug debt, the FBI said. Clark and another defendant are also charged in the murder of another victim in Ontario in April 2024. If convicted, Wedding and Clark both face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison for the continuing criminal enterprise charge, according to the FBI.