In a shocking development, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding has been named the mastermind behind “The Wedding Criminal Enterprise,” a massive drug trafficking ring with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
At a Glance
- Ryan James Wedding accused of leading a major cocaine trafficking operation.
- The operation reportedly trafficked 60 tons of cocaine annually.
- Wedding charged with conspiracy to export cocaine and multiple murders.
- Authorities seized cocaine, weapons, and $3 million in cryptocurrency.
From Snowboarding to Smuggling
Ryan James Wedding, once a Canadian Olympian who participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics, is currently facing severe charges. U.S. authorities claim he orchestrated a criminal enterprise smuggling vast cocaine quantities from Colombia, through Mexico, reaching the U.S. and Canada. With a nickname like ‘The Wedding Criminal Enterprise,’ his alleged operation was dangerously effective.
Wedding’s organization reportedly trafficked 60 tons of cocaine annually, reaping billions in profits. The criminal charges include conspiracy to distribute cocaine and participation in multiple murders linked to the trafficking operations. The charges indicate that his drug ring used a complex network that transported cocaine from Mexico to California, ultimately dispatching it to Canada and various U.S. territories.
The #FBI offers a reward of up to $50,000 for info leading to the apprehension, arrest & extradition of Ryan James Wedding, wanted for alleged involvement in a transnational drug trafficking operation & multiple murders in furtherance of these drug crimes: https://t.co/RFdFwKgSaf pic.twitter.com/YY6s8pmPqx
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) October 17, 2024
The International Manhunt
Authorities across North America have intensified efforts to locate Wedding, who has been on the run. The FBI, along with its international counterparts, has announced a $50,000 reward for any information leading to his capture. The urgency stems from the charges that involve not only drug trafficking but also connections to multiple violent crimes.
“Ryan Wedding is still at large,” declared FBI Special Agent in Charge Krysti Hawkins. She stressed the imperative need for public assistance in tracking down a fugitive whose actions have left a grave impact on countless lives. Details of Wedding’s association with the Sinaloa Cartel add to the gravity of the hunt.
A Past of Notoriety and Violence
Wedding’s past includes a 2009 conviction for cocaine trafficking, with accusations that he resumed his illegal endeavors upon release. The dark side of his operations unfolded with revelations of contracts for executions involving his group. Notably, authorities linked a botched murder attempt to his cadre, tragically claiming the lives of an innocent couple.
“An Olympic athlete-turned-drug lord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians,” stated U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada of California’s Central District. Estrada’s words underscore the severity of the charges Wedding now faces.
The magnitude of this case highlights the intersection of elite sport and organized crime, casting a spotlight on a former Olympian’s radical turn from a celebrated athlete to a fugitive. The consequences he might face, including mandatory life sentences, depict a bleak future unless he surrenders to the authorities.
