A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, Ryan Wedding, is now facing serious accusations of leading a large-scale drug trafficking operation responsible for smuggling around 60 tons of cocaine into the United States. Federal officials also accuse Wedding of orchestrating multiple murders linked to his drug crimes.
Ryan Wedding, 43, who has been residing in Mexico, was indicted along with 15 others on Thursday, according to ABC News. Currently a fugitive, the FBI has issued a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his capture.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada described Wedding’s operation as “prolific and ruthless,” stating that the group was responsible for moving vast amounts of cocaine into both the U.S. and Canada. The drug trafficking ring allegedly made billions of dollars, utilizing cryptocurrency to conceal their financial activities.
The FBI revealed that Wedding’s organization routinely shipped large quantities of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, and into the U.S. and Canada. In addition to drug trafficking, Wedding is also accused of coordinating several murders to further his criminal enterprise.
Known by various aliases, including “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy,” Wedding had once represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, placing 24th in the parallel giant slalom. He did not compete in any future Olympic events.
The case underscores the destructive impact of transnational drug trafficking and the lengths to which criminals will go to expand their operations. The involvement of a former Olympian in such a network is both shocking and a reminder of how deeply the drug trade can infiltrate different layers of society.
