A former Olympic athlete who transformed into one of the most elusive figures in the global narcotics trade has finally been brought into custody. Ryan James Wedding, once a Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested in Mexico after years of evading law enforcement and has now been transferred to the United States to face prosecution. He is accused of running a vast transnational drug trafficking network, laundering enormous sums of money and orchestrating multiple murders across several countries.
Allegations of a Vast Cocaine Network
Investigators allege that Wedding headed an international criminal syndicate responsible for moving approximately 60 metric tonnes of cocaine each year through the United States, primarily via California, with a significant portion routed onward to Canada. The scale of the operation placed the network among the largest cocaine supply chains in North America, generating annual revenues estimated to be in the billions of rupees.
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A Return to Crime After an Earlier Conviction
Wedding’s descent into organised crime marks a dramatic fall from a once-promising sporting career. He represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics, competing in snowboarding events that brought him early international recognition. However, following his sporting career, his life took a sharply different direction. In 2009, he was convicted in the United States in a cocaine distribution conspiracy and served a prison sentence before being released in 2011.
According to investigators, rather than disengaging from crime after his release, Wedding re-entered the narcotics trade with greater sophistication. Over the following years, he is alleged to have rebuilt his influence, forging connections with powerful criminal groups and expanding operations across borders. Authorities claim he eventually emerged as a central figure coordinating drug shipments, financial laundering channels and violent enforcement mechanisms.
Violence, Witness Intimidation and Murders
Beyond drug trafficking, Wedding faces allegations of witness intimidation, contract killings and murder conspiracies. Investigators believe he ordered or facilitated dozens of killings in multiple countries to silence rivals, eliminate informants and maintain control over trafficking routes. One of the most serious accusations involves the killing of a federal witness connected to earlier proceedings against him.
Life in Hiding and a Multinational Arrest
Prior to his arrest, Wedding was believed to have been living in Mexico under the protection of a major drug cartel. Despite being one of the most wanted fugitives for years, he allegedly maintained a high-profile and extravagant lifestyle while in hiding. Weeks before his arrest, authorities seized assets linked to him, including luxury motorcycles valued at around $40 million and a rare high-end hypercar, underscoring the financial scale of his alleged criminal empire.
His arrest was the result of a coordinated multinational operation involving intelligence sharing and long-term surveillance. Investigators tracked his movements over months before moving in to detain him in Mexico. He was swiftly transferred to the United States, where an existing indictment had already been filed in a federal court.
The Case Ahead in U.S. Courts
Wedding is now expected to be produced before a US court, where he will face charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, murder and obstruction of justice. If convicted on all counts, he could face life imprisonment. Authorities say the case against him is supported by extensive financial records, seized communications and testimony from multiple cooperating witnesses.
Officials involved in the broader investigation have stated that more than 36 individuals connected to Wedding’s network have already been arrested, with several others still under investigation. Financial sanctions and asset seizures linked to the syndicate are continuing, aimed at dismantling remaining operational structures.
