Olympic Hero Turned Notorious Drug Kingpin

A former Olympic snowboarder who represented Canada on the world stage has been captured after operating a violent drug empire that flooded American communities with 60 metric tons of cocaine annually—a stunning reminder of how porous borders and weak enforcement under previous administrations enabled criminal networks to devastate U.S. cities with impunity.

Story Snapshot

Ryan Wedding, 44, competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics before allegedly building a transnational cocaine trafficking empire rivaling notorious cartels
FBI Director Kash Patel compared Wedding’s operation to Pablo Escobar and El Chapo, with the organization smuggling massive quantities of cocaine through the U.S.-Mexico border using semitrucks
Wedding carried a $15 million FBI bounty and allegedly ordered the murder of a federal witness, with his own attorney arrested for advising him to carry out the killing
The arrest reflects renewed border security focus under the Trump administration after years of unchecked trafficking operations targeting Los Angeles communities

From Olympic Glory to Criminal Empire

Ryan Wedding represented Canada as a snowboarder at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, competing on the world’s biggest athletic stage. Following his athletic career, Wedding transitioned into criminal enterprise, eventually constructing what U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described as “one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world.” The operation allegedly imported approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into the Los Angeles area through a sophisticated smuggling pipeline utilizing commercial semitrucks operating from Mexico. This staggering volume underscores how weak border enforcement allowed criminal networks to operate virtually unchecked for years.

Decade-Long Manhunt Culminates in Capture

Wedding became a fugitive wanted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2015, evading international law enforcement for over a decade. The FBI elevated him to its Ten Most Wanted list in March 2025, offering a $15 million reward—among the highest bounties ever issued for a fugitive with Canadian ties. FBI Director Kash Patel publicly compared Wedding to Pablo Escobar and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, citing the enormous volume of drugs moved and the violence employed by the organization. This comparison highlights the serious national security threat posed by transnational criminal organizations exploiting America’s borders to poison communities with deadly narcotics.

Violence and Corruption Within Criminal Network

The scope of Wedding’s alleged criminal conspiracy extended beyond drug trafficking into murder and obstruction of justice. In November 2025, new indictments accused Wedding of ordering the murder of a federal witness who could have testified against the organization. Seven associates were arrested in Canada, including Wedding’s attorney, Deepak Paradkar, who allegedly advised Wedding to have the witness killed. This corruption of the legal profession demonstrates how deeply criminal enterprises can penetrate legitimate institutions. Mexican authorities raided four properties connected to Wedding in December 2025, seizing high-priced assets accumulated through the drug trade. These developments illustrate the multi-jurisdictional nature of the threat facing American communities.

Renewed Focus on Border Security and Transnational Crime

Wedding’s arrest on January 23, 2026, represents a significant law enforcement victory resulting from cooperation between U.S., Canadian, and Mexican authorities. The operation disrupts a major cocaine trafficking pipeline that targeted Los Angeles area communities for years. The case exposes vulnerabilities in commercial trucking infrastructure exploited by smugglers to move narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border. Under the Trump administration’s renewed commitment to border security and combating transnational organized crime, this arrest signals a shift from the permissive enforcement approach that allowed such networks to flourish. Enhanced screening protocols at border crossings and aggressive prosecution of trafficking organizations demonstrate the administration’s commitment to protecting American families from the drug epidemic fueled by open-border policies.

The Wedding case serves as a stark illustration of how transnational criminal organizations exploit weak borders to flood American communities with deadly drugs. While previous administrations allowed such networks to operate with relative impunity, the coordinated international effort leading to Wedding’s capture demonstrates what can be achieved when law enforcement receives proper support and resources. The dismantling of this trafficking empire offers hope to communities devastated by the cocaine trade and reinforces the importance of securing America’s borders against criminal enterprises that view them as business opportunities rather than sovereign boundaries deserving respect.