The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has escalated its hunt for former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding, now one of the world's most wanted fugitives, by announcing a staggering $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. The 44-year-old athlete-turned-alleged drug lord is accused of operating a colossal international cocaine network and orchestrating the murder of a federal witness in Colombia.
From Olympic Glory to International Fugitive
Ryan Wedding's story represents one of the most dramatic falls from grace in recent memory. The athlete once competed for Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom event. Today, he stands accused of transforming into what authorities describe as a "modern-day Pablo Escobar," operating a drug trafficking empire that allegedly moved up to 60 tons of cocaine annually from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada.
Operating under multiple aliases including "El Jefe," "Public Enemy," "Giant," and "James Conrad King," Wedding allegedly built one of the largest narcotics pipelines in the Western Hemisphere. His network reportedly used long-haul trucks and sophisticated cross-border routes between Colombia, Mexico, Southern California, and Canada, moving hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cocaine each year.
Serious Criminal Charges and Violent Acts
The charges against Wedding paint a picture of a sophisticated and violent criminal operation. Federal authorities have leveled multiple serious accusations against him:
Narco-Terrorism and Conspiracy: US officials state that Wedding engineered a narco-terrorism operation unprecedented in recent years, working closely with the powerful Sinaloa cartel.
Witness Murder: In a particularly brazen act, Wedding is accused of ordering the assassination of a witness in a pending federal case against him. The witness was tracked down and shot five times at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia in January 2025. Authorities believe Wedding thought eliminating the witness would force the dismissal of the case and prevent his extradition.
Digital Facilitation of Crime: In a modern twist to criminal methodology, Wedding and his associates allegedly used a Canadian website called "The Dirty News" to post the witness's photograph, enabling his identification and subsequent killing. The site's founder, Gursewak Singh Bal, has been arrested for his involvement in this plot.
Legal Conspiracy: Adding to the complexity of the case, Wedding's own lawyer, Deepak Paradkar, was arrested in Canada after prosecutors alleged he advised Wedding that killing the witness would make the legal case disappear.
Current Whereabouts and International Manhunt
Currently, Ryan Wedding remains at large and is believed to be hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, one of the world's most powerful criminal organizations. The FBI has placed him on their 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list and describes him as "extremely violent" and "extremely wealthy," noting he is fully embedded in cartel structures.
Beyond the $15 million reward for Wedding's capture, US authorities are offering up to $2 million each for information leading to the arrest of others involved in the witness killing. The RCMP Commissioner has stated that "Fugitive Ryan Wedding remains one of the top threats to Canadian public safety," emphasizing the cross-border nature of the threat he poses.
The case has resulted in significant arrests already, with seven individuals linked to Wedding's operation apprehended in Canada and three more suspects connected to the Medellín killing detained elsewhere. The international manhunt continues as authorities pursue one of the most dramatic criminal cases involving a former professional athlete in recent history.
