Former Olympic snowboarder is wanted by the FBI for allegedly running an international cocaine ring and orchestrating murders

Ryan Wedding of Canada does a practice run for the men's parallel giant slalom at the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics in Park City, February 13, 2002. Competition in the men's parallel giant slalom begins February 14, 2002. REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell SUE/CRB — Ryan Wedding is now said to be in Mexico. (REUTERS/Jeff J Mitchell)

Ryan Wedding is a snowboarder who competed for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the men's parallel giant slalom. A lot has reportedly happened since then.

The FBI released a wanted notice Thursday promising $50,000 for information leading to the arrest, detention and extradition of Wedding, who the FBI believes may be living in Mexico. The wedding is considered armed and dangerous.

The snowboarder is wanted for allegedly “directing and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California to Canada and other locations in the United States.” He is also accused of orchestrating several murders related to the cocaine ring.

On September 17, a federal arrest warrant was signed in Los Angeles charging Wedding:

Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances
Conspiracy to export cocaine
Continuation of the criminal enterprise; Murder in connection with an ongoing criminal enterprise and drug crime
Attempted murder in connection with an ongoing criminal enterprise and drug crime

An image of former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, 43, who is a fugitive and has been charged for allegedly participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation, is displayed on a video monitor along with blocks of cocaine in the foreground during a news conference at the FBI offices in Los Angeles, Thursday , October 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) — Ryan Wedding remains at large after a litany of drug crimes. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

According to ESPN, Wedding is one of four remaining fugitives in a group of 16 people charged in connection with the ring that allegedly transported 60 tons of cocaine per year. Arrests reportedly occurred in Florida, Michigan, Canada, Colombia and Mexico. Cocaine, weapons, ammunition, cash and cryptocurrencies worth more than $3 million were seized.

Authorities have reportedly claimed the group killed two family members in Canada in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment in what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity.

From ESPN:

“He chose to become a major drug trafficker and he chose to become a murderer,” Estrada told reporters.

Wedding is also reportedly facing drug trafficking charges that date back to 2015 and remain unsolved. He was also previously convicted in the United States of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to prison in 2010, but after his release he resumed drug trafficking under the protection of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel.

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