Ex-Olympic snowboarder pleads not guilty to running billion-dollar drug-smuggling ring

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding pleaded not guilty in a US court to charges of running a billion-dollar drug trafficking ring and orchestrating multiple killings. Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, was one of the FBI’s top fugitives and had been hiding in Mexico for over a decade. US authorities allege he moved tons of cocaine between Colombia, Mexico, Canada, and Southern California, operating under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel. He faces separate drug charges in Canada dating back to 2015. While Mexican officials claim Wedding turned himself in at the US embassy in Mexico City, his defense lawyer disputes this, stating he was arrested.

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding pleaded not guilty to 17 felony charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, and money laundering, in a California court on Monday. Wedding is accused of leading a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation from South America to the US and Canada after his athletic career. He is also accused of ordering several murders in Canada and Colombia related to his drug enterprise. Wedding, wanted by the FBI and RCMP, was recently apprehended in Mexico and extradited to the US. Authorities allege Wedding's operation worked with the Sinaloa cartel and generated over $1 billion annually, making him a major narcotics trafficker. He remains jailed without bond.

Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding pleaded not guilty in a Santa Ana court to 17 felony charges, including drug trafficking, witness tampering, and conspiracy to commit murder. Wedding, who was on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, is accused of running a transnational drug cartel, importing cocaine into Los Angeles, and distributing it across the US and Canada. He is also alleged to have orchestrated the murder of a potential witness and lived under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico. Wedding's attorney disputed reports that he turned himself in. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 9 in Los Angeles.

The FBI arrested Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, in Mexico City on Friday, January 23, 2026. Wedding is accused of leading a multibillion-dollar drug trafficking operation with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, generating over $1 billion annually. He allegedly oversaw the distribution of narcotics into North America and is also accused of hiring assassins. Authorities have arrested 36 individuals connected to Wedding's ring and seized millions in assets. Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Olympics, faces charges of cocaine trafficking and murder and is expected to appear in a US court on Monday.

Ryan Wedding, a 44-year-old former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, was arrested in Mexico on Thursday by the FBI. Wedding is accused of running an international drug trafficking ring and smuggling cocaine into the United States, allegedly collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel. He was initially indicted on cocaine trafficking charges in October 2024 and later charged with murder. The murder charge stems from the killing of Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a Canadian man who was expected to testify against Wedding. Authorities allege Wedding hired a hitman to kill Acebedo-Garcia in Medellin, Colombia, in 2025. Wedding was on the FBI's list of ten most wanted fugitives at the time of his arrest.

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested in Mexico and is in US custody. He is accused of leading a major drug trafficking organization that moved approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually from Mexico to Los Angeles. Wedding is also alleged to have ordered the murder of an FBI witness and others. The arrest followed meetings between the FBI director and Mexican security officials in Mexico City. Wedding, who was on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list with a $15 million reward, was reportedly protected by the Sinaloa cartel while in hiding. He faces charges in the US related to drug trafficking and murder.

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is now accused of being a major international drug lord. Authorities allege that Wedding, known as "El Jefe," orchestrated a drug-trafficking empire from Mexico and ordered the murder of a former associate turned FBI informant in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025. Wedding reportedly placed a $5 million bounty on the informant and used a network of contacts to track him down. The murder led to Wedding being placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List, prompting increased investigation by U.S. and Canadian law enforcement. Wedding is currently a fugitive.