Former Canadian Olympian faces expanded U,S, charges in long running drug case
New charges announced
U,S, officials announced a sweeping set of additional accusations against Ryan James Wedding, a onetime member of Canada’s Olympic snowboarding team who is now wanted in connection with an extensive cross border drug network.
At a briefing in Washington, Attorney General Pam Bondi said prosecutors have added counts including murder, witness tampering, money laundering and drug trafficking.
According to Bondi, the most serious charge involves the killing of a federal witness in Colombia who had been assisting investigators. She described the protection of witnesses as a central responsibility for the Justice Department, noting that retaliation poses direct threats to both individual safety and the legal system.
A fugitive with an expanding profile
Wedding has been the subject of a multination search for more than a year. Federal investigators say he once operated a major cocaine pipeline that moved shipments from Colombia through Mexico before entering the United States and Canada.
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Authorities in both countries say his organization relied on a network of couriers, shell companies and corrupt intermediaries to maintain the flow of narcotics.
A former competitive athlete, Wedding represented Canada during the early 2000s, competing in World Cup events and national championships.
After leaving professional sport, he became involved in business ventures in British Columbia, some of which later drew scrutiny from law enforcement for alleged financial irregularities. U,S, officials say his transition into organized crime began shortly after that period.
Rising reward and cross border coordination
Wedding has been on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list since last year, and the U,S, State Department has now increased the reward for information leading to his capture from 10 million dollars to 15 million dollars. Officials say the size of the reward reflects both the scope of the case and the level of violence tied to the alleged trafficking operation.
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Investigators say the group connected to Wedding is believed to have carried out multiple killings. Among them were two individuals in Canada who were mistakenly targeted in a retaliatory attack linked to a lost shipment of cocaine.
Law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia have coordinated arrests in recent months, detaining at least a dozen people who were allegedly involved in logistics, transport or enforcement roles within the network.
Ongoing investigations
Wedding was first charged in 2024 with offenses including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and murder, according to U,S, court documents. Canadian authorities are also pursuing separate drug trafficking charges against him.
Investigators believe he is currently hiding in Mexico, although officials say they continue to receive unconfirmed tips from several countries.
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Federal agencies say they expect additional indictments as the investigation progresses, noting that financial records, seized communications and cooperators have provided extensive new leads.
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