Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has become one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, accused of leading a violent transnational drug trafficking organization. Born on September 14, 1981, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wedding competed in the men’s parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th. Following his athletic career, he became involved in drug trafficking, leading to a 2010 conviction in the U.S. for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.  ￼ ￼ ￼

After his release, authorities allege that Wedding resumed drug trafficking activities, eventually becoming a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel. He is accused of orchestrating the shipment of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other U.S. locations. To further these drug crimes, Wedding allegedly ordered multiple murders and an attempted murder.  ￼ ￼ ￼

In June 2024, Wedding and his alleged second-in-command, Andrew Clark, were indicted in Los Angeles federal court on multiple charges, including running a continuing criminal enterprise, murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise, and assorted drug crimes. Clark was arrested in Mexico in October 2024 and extradited to the U.S., while Wedding remains at large.  ￼ ￼

On March 6, 2025, Wedding was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. Wedding is considered armed and dangerous, and authorities believe he may be residing in Mexico, though his exact whereabouts are unknown.  ￼ ￼

Wedding’s transformation from Olympian to alleged drug kingpin underscores the complex and often unexpected paths individuals may take, highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces in combating transnational criminal organizations. ￼

From Canadian Olympian To Jefe Del Cartel: The Story Of Ryan James Wedding