The Elusive Fugitive: Ryan Wedding's Journey from Canadian Olympian to FBI's Most Wanted
The story of Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian, has taken a dramatic turn from the slopes of Salt Lake City to the shadows of international crime. Once a promising skier, Wedding's life took a sinister turn when he became entangled in a web of drug trafficking and murder conspiracies, leading the FBI to label him as one of their most wanted fugitives.
The Olympic Skier Turned Fugitive
Ryan Wedding's athletic career began in the snowy landscapes of British Columbia, where he honed his skills as a skier. His passion for snowboarding, however, led him to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he competed in the parallel giant slalom. Despite his efforts, Wedding didn't secure a medal, and his snowboarding career ended shortly after.
In 2008, Wedding's life took a darker turn when he was arrested in California for attempting to purchase cocaine. The FBI suspected he was working for a drug lord in British Columbia, and he spent three years in U.S. prisons. Despite this setback, Wedding's criminal activities continued, and in 2015, he fled to Mexico, evading arrest and the law.
The Sinaloa Cartel's Protection
The FBI attributes Wedding's continued elusiveness to the protection provided by the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel and other criminal entities in Mexico. The cartel's extensive network and military-grade weaponry make it a formidable force, and Wedding's association with them has likely contributed to his ability to evade capture.
A Massive Drug Trafficking Operation
U.S. officials accuse Wedding of running a cartel-linked empire, moving massive amounts of cocaine into North America. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wedding's organization is responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tonnes of cocaine annually via semi-trucks from Mexico, equivalent to the weight of 40 cars.
However, the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, through Akil Davis, clarifies that Wedding's operations extend beyond cocaine. He has trafficked record levels of drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Ordered and Orchestrated Murder
The FBI believes Wedding has ordered and orchestrated numerous murders worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. One of the most notable incidents involved the murder of a U.S. federal witness who was set to testify against Wedding. The witness was gunned down in a restaurant in Medellin, Colombia, earlier this year.
The FBI's Ten Most Wanted List
Since March 2025, Wedding has been on the FBI's list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. The agency describes him as one of the world's most dangerous fugitives due to his level of coordination and ruthlessness in planning and executing murders.
Arrests and Legal Battles
Despite the extensive efforts to capture Wedding, there have been previous arrests connected to his drug trafficking operations. In one notable case, a Quebec man was arrested in connection with the murder of the U.S. federal witness. Additionally, Wedding's Canadian lawyer, Deepak Paradkar, was among those arrested in the ongoing investigation, accused of advising Wedding to kill the witness.
The U.S. government remains committed to bringing Wedding to justice, with officials vowing that no one, not even a former Olympian, is above the law.
