A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder has been charged with leading a drug trafficking operation that allegedly distributed large quantities of cocaine across the Americas and is linked to the deaths of four individuals, according to authorities.
The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information that could lead to the capture and extradition of Ryan James Wedding, who is considered a fugitive and was residing in Mexico. The 43-year-old faces multiple charges in the United States, including operating a criminal enterprise, murder, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Authorities claim that Wedding’s organization was responsible for transporting significant amounts of cocaine from Colombia, traversing through Mexico and California, and ultimately delivering it to Canada and various U.S. locations using long-haul trucks. Wedding is among 16 defendants connected to a group that moved approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually, with four of them still at large.
“This was a choice he made—to become a major drug trafficker and a killer,” said Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles.
FBI Special Agent Krysti Hawkins reported the arrest of a dozen individuals in Florida, Michigan, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico linked to the case.
Federal authorities allege that Wedding’s group was involved in the murders of two family members in Canada, motivated by revenge for a stolen drug shipment and linked to a case of mistaken identity, as well as the deaths of two others. Investigators have seized cocaine, firearms, ammunition, cash, and over $3 million in cryptocurrency during their probe.
Wedding represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City. He also faces unresolved drug trafficking charges in Canada dating back to 2015, according to Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather.
Wedding was previously convicted in the U.S. for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and served time in prison in 2010. Authorities believe he resumed trafficking activities after his release and is now protected by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.