A Canadian Olympic snowboarder by the name of Ryan Wedding is on the "FBI's most wanted list," as he has been accused of leading a drug trafficking operation, where he allegedly shipped hundreds of kilos of cocaine. Not only this, according to reports, he also had people killed.
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An ex-professional snowboarder, Wedding represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics at the Salt Lake City Games.
Considering the findings of his crimes, there is now a $50,000 reward for anyone that provides information leading to the arrest and extradition of 43-year-old Wedding, who also goes by "El Jefe," "Giant," and "Public Enemy."
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
Authorities say his last known whereabouts are him living in Mexico. As of now he is considered a fugitive and dangerous.
In view of how he had been running his illegal business, Wedding allegedly would hire accomplices to ship massive quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico. Then the former Olympian would use stash houses in the LA area before having couriers drive semi-trucks with the product to Canada.
In order to maintain power and order, Wedding utilized violent scare tactics, as two members of a family in Ontario, Canada were murdered for intercepting a drug shipment in LA. In addition, another life was taken over a drug debt.
Notably, officials have already seized more than one ton of cocaine, $255K cash (USD), $3.2 million in crypto, firearms and ammunition.
The amount of cocaine delivered is said to be 646 pounds in just the month of March alone. Then investigators were able to take in 827 pounds in April. As an estimate, there were 60 tons of cocaine being moved per year.
Ultimately, officials say Wedding's ring was in possession of $23.4-25.2 million worth of cocaine.
According to federal records, Wedding was also previously convicted in 2010 with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to four years in prison.
All in all, Wedding is now being pinned with eight felonies, that includes the following charges, "two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to export cocaine, one count of leading a continuing criminal enterprise, three counts of murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise, and drug crime, and one count of attempt to commit murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime" (per TMZ).
The U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, said on Thursday Wedding is one of 16 people who have been charged in the 16-count indictment.
Related: Many Are Up In Arms Over The Olympics Allowing A Convicted Rapist To Compete In Paris
