Former Olympian Accused of Leading Drug Trafficking Network

The FBI is seeking information on Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, who is accused of orchestrating a drug trafficking enterprise linked to multiple murders. The U.S. government is offering a substantial reward for tips leading to his capture.

Former Olympic athlete Ryan Wedding, age 43, is now facing serious legal troubles as he finds himself on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. Wedding, a Canadian national who participated in the Giant Slalom discipline during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002, is alleged to be the mastermind behind a violent transnational drug trafficking network.

The criminal activities associated with Wedding reportedly involve the shipment of large quantities of cocaine—hundreds of kilograms—from Colombia, through Mexico and California, to various locations in Canada and the U.S. Additionally, investigators contend that he has orchestrated multiple murders and an attempted murder connected to these drug crimes.

As part of their investigation, U.S. authorities are offering a reward of up to $10 million for any information that leads to Wedding's arrest or conviction. Initial efforts suggest he may currently be residing in Mexico, but no locations, including Canada and other parts of Latin America, have been ruled out.

In June 2024, both Wedding and accomplice Andrew Clark, 34, also from Canada, were indicted in California for establishing a continuing criminal enterprise, committing serious crimes, and conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine. Clark was captured by Mexican authorities last October and was recently extradited to the U.S.

FBI officials assert that Wedding and Clark ordered violent retaliations following drug shipment thefts, including the murders of two relatives in Ontario as well as another victim linked to a drug debt. The FBI's Akil Davis emphasized the danger Wedding represents and the urgency for public assistance in capturing him before any further violence occurs.