The focal point of a major global criminal probe, a Canadian individual remains on the run, with the FBI attributing his evasion to backing from the potent Sinaloa drug cartel and other criminal factions in Mexico. Ryan Wedding has been evading authorities since 2015, wanted for various drug-related offenses, conspiracy charges, and the orchestration of murders. Consequently, the U.S. State Department has amplified the bounty for Wedding’s capture to $15 million US, up from $10 million US.
Beginning his journey as a Canadian Olympian, Wedding’s fame rose during the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Transitioning from a Canadian National Ski Team member to a snowboarding competitor, Wedding represented Canada in snowboarding at the Olympics in parallel giant slalom, albeit without securing a medal. His snowboarding career concluded post-2002, followed by his arrest in 2008 in California for attempting to purchase cocaine, allegedly working for a British Columbia drug lord. Serving approximately three years in U.S. penitentiaries, Wedding faced charges by the RCMP in Montreal in April 2015 for involvement in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation before fleeing to Mexico, where he has since remained elusive.
Law enforcement authorities suspect that Wedding, now 44, resides in Mexico, overseeing a significant drug trafficking network, shielded by the Sinaloa cartel, renowned as one of the most influential and longstanding cartels globally. While speculation suggests Wedding might have left Mexico undetected, potential sightings range across the U.S., Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and other destinations.
Despite several attempts, Wedding has successfully eluded capture over the years, purportedly shielded by the Sinaloa cartel and Mexico-based cohorts. The cartel, armed with military-grade weaponry, employs extreme violence, spreading fear among the populace. Wedding’s evasion tactics involve leveraging threats, violence, and murder, aided by associates who likely warn him of impending arrests, facilitating his movement across various global locations.
Wedding’s drug operation, as described by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, portrays him as the principal distributor of cocaine in Canada, heading one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking syndicates globally. The organization imports around 60 metric tonnes of cocaine annually into Los Angeles, equivalent to the weight of 40 cars, alongside trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine at record levels.
With a reputation reminiscent of notorious drug lords like Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzman, Wedding stands accused of orchestrating numerous murders worldwide, notably of a U.S. federal witness gunned down in Colombia. Despite the complexity and ruthlessness of his operations, law enforcement agencies are committed to bringing Wedding to justice, emphasizing that no individual, even a former Olympian, is exempt from accountability.