(DailyVantage.com) – A former Olympic snowboarder turned global drug kingpin is now America’s most wanted fugitive, with the FBI releasing a new photo and raising the reward to a staggering $15 million as the manhunt intensifies.
Story Overview
- FBI releases new photo of Ryan Wedding, ex-Olympic snowboarder turned alleged cocaine kingpin with $15 million bounty
- Wedding accused of running one of the world’s most violent drug trafficking organizations tied to Sinaloa Cartel
- Federal charges include ordering multiple murders, including killing a witness days before testimony
- Ten co-conspirators arrested while Wedding remains at large, believed hiding in Mexico under cartel protection
Olympic Champion Becomes Criminal Mastermind
Ryan James Wedding represented Canada in men’s parallel giant slalom snowboarding at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. After his athletic career ended, federal prosecutors allege Wedding transformed into the leader of a transnational cocaine trafficking empire. The Department of Justice describes his organization as “one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in this world” that works closely with the notorious Sinaloa Cartel.
Wedding allegedly evolved from small-scale drug involvement into commanding multi-ton cocaine shipments from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada. Federal authorities assert he became the dominant cocaine distributor in Canada, controlling wholesale supply networks across North America. His operation demonstrates how criminals can exploit legitimate backgrounds to build extensive criminal enterprises that threaten communities on both sides of the border.
Trail of Violence and Murder
Federal indictments reveal Wedding’s alleged willingness to use extreme violence to protect his criminal empire. On November 20, 2023, prosecutors charge Wedding with directing the murders of two cartel-linked individuals in Mexico during a trafficking dispute. The violence escalated when Wedding allegedly ordered the killing of a married couple who were mistakenly targeted due to misidentification, showing the collateral damage of organized crime.
The most brazen alleged crime occurred on January 31, 2025, when federal witness Jonathan Acebedo Garcia was murdered in a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia. Garcia was scheduled to testify against Wedding just days later in a U.S. federal case. Prosecutors allege Wedding ordered this assassination to obstruct justice, demonstrating his international reach and ruthless determination to silence those who threaten his operation.
Unprecedented Manhunt Escalates
Wedding was added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on March 6, 2025, marking him as one of America’s highest-priority targets. The FBI recently released a new photograph believed to be a selfie Wedding took in Mexico during summer 2024, showing him shirtless with a distinctive lion tattoo on his chest. This strategic release aims to help the public recognize Wedding despite potential changes in his appearance.
The reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest has been raised to $15 million, reportedly the highest amount currently offered on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list. Authorities believe Wedding is hiding in Mexico, frequently moving locations while using aliases and relying on Sinaloa Cartel protection. Ten co-conspirators have been arrested in connection with federal indictments, but Wedding remains at large and is considered armed and extremely dangerous. This case represents the Trump administration’s commitment to dismantling international criminal organizations that poison American communities.
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