Ryan Wedding, once known for representing Canada on the Olympic snowboarding stage, is now facing U.S. federal justice after being apprehended in Mexico following years on the run. Wedding, 44, had been listed among the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives for his alleged leadership of a large international drug trafficking network.
Mexican authorities confirmed that Wedding surrendered himself at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City late Thursday evening. He was transferred to American custody the following day and flown to Southern California, where he arrived at Ontario International Airport under heavy security. Video footage released by officials showed him being escorted in handcuffs by federal agents.
At a press briefing held at the airport, FBI leadership described the arrest as the culmination of a long and complex international investigation. Officials stated that Wedding is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated criminal organization responsible for moving massive quantities of illegal narcotics across borders, primarily from South America into North America.
According to federal prosecutors, the alleged operation trafficked tens of metric tons of cocaine through Mexico and Southern California, with distribution routes extending into Canada and multiple U.S. states. Authorities estimate the enterprise generated more than a billion dollars annually at its peak, relying on storage facilities and transportation networks based in Southern California counties.
Wedding is now facing a wide-ranging superseding indictment that includes charges of running a continuing criminal enterprise, large-scale drug trafficking, and involvement in multiple violent crimes. Prosecutors allege he ordered several murders between 2023 and 2025, including retaliatory killings linked to missing drug shipments and the death of a federal witness.
Investigators reported significant seizures during the multi-year probe, including thousands of kilograms of cocaine, large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, firearms, and tens of millions of dollars in assets such as luxury vehicles and artwork. Dozens of individuals connected to the organization have been arrested, and numerous suspects have been sanctioned by U.S. authorities.
Wedding’s background sharply contrasts with the charges he now faces. He competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in the men’s parallel giant slalom event. His earlier criminal history includes a drug-related conviction in 2009, after which investigators allege his criminal activities escalated significantly following his release from prison.
Added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list in March 2025, Wedding carried a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. Officials credited close cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities for bringing the case to a close.
Wedding is expected to make his first appearance in U.S. federal court early next week, where formal proceedings against him will begin.
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