U.S. Charges Allege Control of Canada’s Largest Cocaine Smuggling Operation
The FBI has identified former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding as the leader of the largest cocaine trafficking network in Canada, which is directly tied to the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced.
Ryan James Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics and finished 24th in parallel giant slalom, now faces multiple federal charges in the U.S., including drug trafficking and orchestrating the murder of a key witness.
Authorities describe Wedding as a modern-day drug kingpin with direct connections not only to the Sinaloa Cartel but also to Colombian drug organizations, commanding an illegal enterprise generating over $1 billion annually.
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment outlining Wedding’s role in the murder of a witness in Colombia who was slated to testify against him earlier this year. Wedding allegedly posted the victim’s photos online to facilitate the killing.
The FBI has increased the reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest or conviction from $10 million to $15 million, underscoring his status as a high-priority fugitive.
Canadian authorities have arrested several associates tied to Wedding’s network, charging them with conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking, and are coordinating extradition processes to the U.S.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the international law enforcement collaboration to bring Wedding and his associates to justice and dismantle the transnational drug operation.
While Wedding remains at large, his case highlights ongoing challenges in combating global drug trafficking networks involving high-profile figures.
