- $10M State Department reward for information leading to arrest
- Added to FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list
- Federal charges include drug trafficking and multiple murders
- Alleged co-conspirator extradited from Mexico in 2023
- 2002 Olympian accused of running transnational cocaine network
The U.S. Department of Justice has escalated efforts to capture Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder now accused of leading a transnational criminal empire. Authorities revealed Thursday that Wedding allegedly transitioned from athletic success to coordinating cocaine shipments exceeding 1,000 pounds monthly through sophisticated North American smuggling routes.
Court documents describe a sprawling operation moving Colombian cocaine through Mexican cartel networks to distribution hubs in Los Angeles. Investigators claim Wedding's group used refrigerated produce trucks and modified vehicle compartments to transport drugs across borders, with profits allegedly exceeding $2.8 billion over 15 years.
Mexico's recent extradition of Wedding's alleged lieutenant Andrew Clark marks a significant breakthrough in the international investigation. Clark's arrest near Guadalajara in 2023 led to the seizure of 387kg of cocaine and detailed financial records exposing the organization's laundering techniques through Caribbean shell companies.
Law enforcement experts note this case highlights three critical trends: the vulnerability of retired athletes to criminal recruitment, improved U.S.-Mexico intelligence sharing, and cartels' increasing use of non-traditional smuggling personnel. A 2024 Interpol report shows 12% of transnational drug cases now involve former professional athletes.
The State Department's unprecedented reward reflects Wedding's alleged violence, including five confirmed murders in British Columbia between 2018-2021. Forensic evidence links these killings to territorial disputes with rival traffickers, with victims found with symbolic snowboard stickers placed on their bodies.
Regional analysis shows Mexico remains central to Wedding's operation, with recent raids uncovering three safehouses in Puerto Vallarta. However, investigators warn he may have relocated to Honduras' remote Mosquito Coast region, where 43 drug labs have been dismantled since January 2024.
If captured, Wedding faces mandatory life imprisonment under U.S. federal laws targeting criminal enterprises. Prosecutors have prepared testimony from seven protected witnesses, including a former cartel accountant who claims Wedding personally authorized all violent actions.