Former Olympic snowboarder is wanted by FBI for murder and drug trafficking

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, is wanted by the FBI.

The FBI released a wanted notice against the 43-year-old on Tuesday and offered $50,000 for information leading to his arrest.

The FBI's statement accuses Wedding of “being sought for his alleged direction and participation in a transnational drug trafficking operation in which hundreds of kilograms of cocaine were routinely shipped from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California to Canada and other locations in the United States.” It is alleged that Wedding was involved in orchestrating several murders in furtherance of these drug crimes.

On September 17, 2024, a federal arrest warrant was issued in Los Angeles on five counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to export cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise, murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime and attempted murder in connection with an ongoing criminal enterprise and drug crime.

According to the AP, Wedding is one of 16 people killed in connection with a drug ring that “transported 60 tons of cocaine per year.” He is one of four members of this ring who are still at large.

Wedding has also been charged with drug trafficking in Canada since 2015. In 2010, he was sentenced to prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. After his release, authorities believed he resumed drug trafficking and was being protected by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

At the 2002 Olympic Games, Wedding finished 24th in the men's snowboard slalom.