Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, finds himself on the FBI’s list of the 10 most wanted individuals, with an increased bounty for his capture.
The 44-year-old, who once represented Canada in snowboarding during the 2002 Olympics, is now leading a drastically different life, as detailed by the FBI.
The reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest has been raised from $10 million to $15 million. Authorities have compared him to infamous figures such as Pablo Escobar.
FBI Director Kash Patel has stated that Wedding orchestrated a narcotics trafficking and terrorism program that is unprecedented in recent times.
During a recent press conference, Patel discussed the increased bounty and reiterated the FBI’s commitment to capturing Wedding.
He stated, “Make no mistake about it, Ryan Wedding is a modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar, a modern day iteration of El Chapo Guzman.
“This justice department and this FBI will work with our Canadian counterparts and the government officials across the world to bring him to justice.”
Patel continued, “It’s incredibly humbling for this FBI to be a part of it and to lead out the efforts on Ryan Wedding. And for those of you out there that have any information on Ryan Wedding, now is the time to speak up. Now is the time to help us.”
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has accused Wedding of orchestrating the murder of a federal witness involved in a case against him.
Bondi further asserted that Wedding is facing charges including witness tampering, intimidation, murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
Reports suggest that Wedding allegedly paid C$10,000 ($7,000) to have photos of the witness and his wife shared on a Canadian website, the Dirty Newz.
The image appeared on the website in October 2024, but the FBI has since removed the site.
The victim, who was residing in Colombia, was shot in a Medellin restaurant in January.
The FBI states that Wedding is a key figure in the largest cocaine distribution network in Canada, with his organization reportedly generating over $1 billion annually.
Akil Davis, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, commented on Wedding’s transition into crime.
He remarked, “Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada.”
According to authorities, Wedding began his criminal activities after being released from a US federal prison in 2011, where he served time for cocaine distribution.
If you need confidential advice about drugs, you can reach out to American Addiction Centers at (313) 209-9137, available 24/7, or visit their website.