Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding Arrested for Drug Trafficking
Ryan Wedding, who used to be an Olympic snowboarder from Canada, has been arrested.
He is accused of being a big boss in a drug trafficking group.
This group is said to have moved a lot of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to the United States and Canada.
The FBI and other police agencies have been investigating him.
They think he was hiding in Mexico with the help of a powerful drug cartel.
The FBI director and Canadian police were going to talk about this big arrest at a news conference.
Ryan is also accused of ordering several murders.
He was on the FBI's most wanted list with a big reward for his capture.
Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested for alleged drug trafficking and murder.
He is accused of running a transnational network that moved cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to the U.S. and Canada.
Wedding was on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list with a $15 million reward for his capture.
U.S. and Canadian officials believe he was residing in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Michael Duheme, along with Attorney General Pamela Bondi, announced the arrest.
- Who
- Ryan Wedding, a 44-year-old Canadian former Olympic snowboarder
- What
- Arrested for allegedly running a transnational drug trafficking network and ordering multiple murders
- When
- Arrested on January 23, 2024
- Where
- Location of arrest not specified, but believed to be in Mexico
- Why
- Allegedly involved in drug trafficking, witness intimidation, money laundering, and murder
Prosecution
Defense
Severity of Charges
Prosecution
Prosecution alleges Wedding was a violent cocaine kingpin involved in multiple murders and large-scale drug trafficking.
Defense
Defense may argue that the charges are exaggerated and that Wedding's past as an athlete should be considered.
Evidence
Prosecution
Prosecution claims to have evidence of Wedding's involvement in drug trafficking and murder.
Defense
Defense may challenge the validity and sufficiency of the evidence presented.
- Name
- Ryan Wedding
- Age
- 44
- Alleged Crimes
- Drug trafficking, witness intimidation, money laundering, murder
- Organization
- Sinaloa Cartel
- Drugs Trafficked
- Cocaine
- Countries Involved
- Colombia, Mexico, United States, Canada
- FBI List
- Top 10 Most Wanted
- Reward for Capture
- $15 million
Sources
Canadian ex-Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin arrested, NBC News reports
Canadian ex-Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin arrested, to face US charges
Who is Ryan Wedding? Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and FBI most wanted fugitive arrested in major drug and murder
Ryan Wedding arrest: Why FBI arrested ex-Olympic snowboarder; what are the charges? All you need to know
Canadian ex-Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin arrested in Mexico, to face US charges
