Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding has been arrested in Mexico after years on the run. U.S. authorities confirmed that the 44-year-old faces charges for leading a violent international drug network linked to the notorious Sinaloa cartel.
According to the FBI, Wedding coordinated the transport of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico and then through Southern California, where the drugs were distributed in the U.S. and Canada. Officials believe he had been operating from Mexico for more than a decade, directing the cartel’s operations remotely.
The FBI described Wedding as one of the most dangerous modern-day drug smugglers, with his organization implicated in severe violence, including witness killings. One federal witness set to testify against him was reportedly murdered in a restaurant under a contract allegedly ordered by Wedding.
Wedding was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in March, with a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his capture. He was previously arrested in 2009 for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine and served nearly four years in prison.
Investigators estimate that his network smuggled more than 60 metric tons of cocaine through Southern California alone. So far, 36 individuals have been arrested, and 19 others have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. Mexican authorities cooperated in his capture, and Wedding has been extradited to the United States, where he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Officials said investigations are ongoing, with further arrests possible.
