Once a proud representative of Canada at the Winter Olympics, 44-year-old athlete Ryan Wedding now stands accused of leading one of North America’s most expansive drug-trafficking networks. He is alleged to have moved tens of tonnes of cocaine each year, overseen murders to protect his enterprise, and is currently the subject of a sweeping international law-enforcement manhunt.
Rise and Fall: From Snowboards to Smuggling
Wedding began his career in snowboarding representing Canada at the 2002 Winter Games.After his sporting career ended, investigators say he embraced the underworld: establishing connections with the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, orchestrating large-scale cocaine shipments—from Colombia through Mexico and the U.S.—and distributing into Canada.
The Charges: Murder, Money Laundering & Drug Trafficking
U.S. authorities allege that Wedding maintained one of the largest cocaine distribution rings in Canada, moving roughly 60 metric tonnes annually. In a dramatic turn, he is also charged with ordering the murder of a federal witness in Colombia, posting bounty-style photos online in a bid to suppress testimony. Alongside drug-trafficking counts, he faces charges of money laundering, witness tampering and multiple homicide conspiracies.
Global Manhunt & Reward Escalation
Currently considered armed and extremely dangerous, Wedding is believed to be hiding in Mexico under cartel protection, with law-enforcement agencies across Canada, the U.S. and Latin America cooperating in the hunt. The U.S. Department of Justice has increased the reward for information leading to his capture to $15 million.
