Former Olympian Accused of Leading Drug Trafficking Ring by FBI

The FBI has added Canadian ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding, 43, to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, linking him to a violent drug trafficking organization accused of orchestrating murders and exporting cocaine across borders.

Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has gained notoriety after being listed as one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives due to his alleged involvement in a violent transnational drug trafficking operation. The 43-year-old athlete, who represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, is charged with shipping large quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and into the United States and Canada, as well as being implicated in several murders, including that of family members over drug-related disputes.

Wedding's alleged criminal activities have racked up serious charges, including orchestrating a series of retaliatory murders aimed at rivals in the drug trade. In particular, a November 2023 incident involving the murder of two family members in Ontario was reportedly in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment. Moreover, a survivor of this attack suffered severe injuries, and additional allegations include the execution of another victim over debts related to drugs.

The FBI believes Wedding is currently residing in Mexico but hasn't dismissed the possibility that he could be in the U.S., Canada, or other Latin American territories. Authorities are offering a reward of up to $10 million for any information leading to his arrest, as they seek assistance from the public in capturing this dangerous fugitive. Wedding has been known to use multiple aliases, such as "El Jefe" and "Public Enemy."

Wedding's co-accused, Andrew Clark, 34, was arrested last October in Mexico and was part of a group of 29 fugitives sent back to the U.S. Clark and Wedding face a multitude of serious charges, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise and committing murder associated with their drug operations. While the ex-Olympian's current legal status is unclear, the FBI has expressed urgency in apprehending him to prevent further violence.