A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder accused of becoming a powerful international drug trafficker has been arrested in Mexico and transferred to the United States to face federal charges, U.S. authorities said.
Ryan Wedding, 44, who represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, was taken into custody Thursday in Mexico City after years on the run. U.S. officials allege Wedding led a vast cocaine smuggling network linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and oversaw multiple killings connected to drug operations across North America.
Speaking at a news conference near Los Angeles, FBI Director Kash Patel said Wedding’s arrest marked the end of a long investigation into what authorities describe as one of the most significant drug trafficking operations in recent years.
“This individual and his organization flooded communities with narcotics and caused enormous harm,” Patel said, adding that the case reflects extensive cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies.
According to federal prosecutors, Wedding is accused of running a transnational criminal enterprise that moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada. Authorities estimate the operation generated more than one billion dollars in illegal drug proceeds each year.
Wedding had been placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, and U.S. officials previously offered a reward of up to 15 million dollars for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Officials have not said whether the reward will be paid.
Mexico’s security ministry said Wedding voluntarily surrendered at the U.S. embassy before being handed over to American authorities. Investigators declined to provide further details about the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Court documents allege Wedding ordered several drug related killings, including the murder of a U.S. federal witness in Colombia in early 2025. He is also accused of directing multiple killings in Canada tied to stolen drug shipments and unpaid drug debts.
An FBI spokesperson said Wedding will remain in custody in Los Angeles and is scheduled to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Monday. Authorities said dozens of people connected to his alleged criminal organization have already been arrested, with millions of dollars in drugs, cash, weapons, and other assets seized during the investigation.
