Who Is Ryan Wedding? What to Know About the Former Olympian Accused of Being a 'Drug Lord' By Christopher Rudolph

Ryan Wedding is on the FBI’s most wanted list.

On Nov. 19, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Wedding has been charged with “overseeing the operations of a criminal enterprise,” including the murder of a federal witness.

Wedding is a former Olympian who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, but in the years since, he has become involved in “one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world,” according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Earlier this year, in March 2025, Wedding was added to the FBI’s most wanted list. “No one, not even a former Olympian, is above the law,” Chris Landberg, senior bureau official of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said in a Nov. 19 press release.

So, who is Ryan Wedding? Here’s everything to know about the former professional athlete and why federal authorities are looking for him.

Who is Ryan Wedding?

Wedding is a former Olympic snowboarder who represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He competed in the men’s parallel giant slalom event, where he placed 24th.

According to Rolling Stone, Wedding grew up in Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada. He had been snowboarding since the age of 12 and made the Canadian national team at 15.

Snow sports ran in the family, with Wedding’s dad participating in ski races in college, and his uncle skiing for the Canadian national team.

After the 2002 Olympics, Wedding attended Simon Fraser University with an interest in becoming a stockbroker or an engineer. Per the publication, Wedding dropped out following two years of schooling and became a bouncer before allegedly getting involved in the world of dealing drugs.

“You can have every opportunity and still take the wrong path. But it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person,” Wedding’s mom told the outlet.

Why is Ryan Wedding wanted by the FBI?

Wedding is wanted by the FBI for “allegedly running a transnational drug trafficking network,” per CBS News.

According to Bondi, Wedding is the “largest distributor of cocaine” in Canada, importing “60 metric tons” of the drug from Mexico to the U.S. every year.

At the Nov. 19 news conference, per NBC News, FBI Director Kash Patel said, “Ryan Wedding is a modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar. He’s a modern day iteration of ‘El Chapo’ Guzman.”

He has also been accused of orchestrating the murder of a federal witness who was set to testify against him. The victim was fatally shot at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.

Per federal authorities, Wedding allegedly put out the hit on the witness after being indicted in 2024.

“The murder of a witness in Colombia earlier this year was a cruel, cold-blooded act that could not and did not go unanswered,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California, in the Nov. 19 press release.

What has Ryan Wedding been charged with?

According to USA Today, Wedding has been indicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute and export cocaine, money laundering and murder.

Wedding was previously convicted of drug trafficking when he attempted to buy cocaine from a U.S. government agent during a sting operation in 2008, the Vancouver Sun reported. He was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to four years in prison, per The New York Times.

“Whether you’re a kingpin or a dealer on the street, anyone who sells drugs to our kids will be arrested and prosecuted,” Bondi said in the press release, adding that they “will not rest until his name is taken off the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted List, and his narco-trafficking organization lies dismantled.”

Has Ryan Wedding been caught?

No, as of Nov. 20, Wedding has not been caught.

Authorities are offering $15 million for information that leads to Wedding’s apprehension. He is believed to be living in Mexico, while being protected by the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Wedding uses different aliases, including “El Jefe,” “Public Enemy” and “Giant,” among others, per CBS Sports.

On Nov. 19, the Department of Justice announced that 10 people linked to Wedding’s alleged drug enterprise had been taken into custody the day before, on Nov. 18.

Their arrests are part of the second phase of a “dynamic international investigation” known as “Operation Giant Slalom,” according to Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Wedding is still a fugitive, but Davis said, “We will find him, and we will bring him and his associates to justice.”