MEXICO CITY — In a dramatic end to a year-long international manhunt, Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, has been arrested in Mexico and is now in U.S. custody. The FBI confirmed the arrest late Thursday night, with Director Kash Patel announcing that Wedding will be transported to the United States to face a sweeping set of federal charges.
Wedding, 44, competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, finishing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom. But his post-athletic career took a dark turn. According to federal prosecutors, Wedding allegedly led a transnational criminal enterprise responsible for trafficking over 130,000 pounds of cocaine annually into the United States. He is also accused of ordering multiple murders, including the killing of a federal witness who was set to testify against him.
The charges against Wedding include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to export cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise, and conspiracy to commit murder. The indictment paints a picture of a sprawling drug network with ties to Colombia, Mexico, and multiple U.S. cities.
Wedding’s arrest marks a major victory for federal law enforcement. He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2025, and a $15 million reward was offered for information leading to his capture. Authorities say he operated under several aliases, including El Jefe, Giant, Public Enemy, and James Conrad King.
“This is a huge day for a safer North America and the world,” FBI Director Patel wrote on X. “It’s a message that those who break our laws and harm our citizens will be brought to justice.”
One of Wedding’s alleged top associates, Andrew Clark, was arrested in Mexico in 2024 and extradited to the U.S. last year. Clark’s arrest reportedly helped investigators close in on Wedding’s location.
The arrest has stunned many in the sports world, where Wedding was once seen as a rising star. His transformation from Olympian to alleged cartel leader has drawn comparisons to other high-profile falls from grace, and the case is expected to generate intense media coverage as it moves through the U.S. legal system.
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