Ryan Wedding, 44, is a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who competed at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games and placed 24th in the parallel giant slalom. Wedding is now infamous as an international drug trafficker, accused of running one of the largest narcotics pipelines in the Western Hemisphere.
Authorities say Wedding evolved into a “modern-day Pablo Escobar,” running a drug-trafficking empire that transported up to 60 tons of cocaine a year from Colombia through Mexico and into the United States and Canada.
His nicknames are said to include “El Jefe”, “Public Enemy”, “Giant” and “James Conrad King”.
What are the charges against him?
The wedding faces several federal charges in the United States, including:
1. Operation of a transnational drug trafficking network
Accused of organizing a colossal narcotics pipeline involving the Sinaloa cartel.
Used trucks for long-haul and cross-border routes between Colombia, Mexico, Southern California and Canada.
Allegedly responsible for transporting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cocaine annually.
2. Narco-terrorism and conspiracy
American officials claim that Wedding prepared a narco-terrorist operation that is unprecedented in recent years.
3. Ordering the assassination of a federal witness
January 2025: A witness in the ongoing federal case against Wedding is tracked down and shot five times in a restaurant in Medellin, Colombia.
Authorities say Wedding believed killing the witness would force the case to be dismissed and prevent his extradition.
4. Using a website to facilitate killing
Wedding and his associates allegedly used the Canadian website “The Dirty News” to publish the witness’s photo so he could be identified and killed.
The site’s founder, Gursewak Singh Bal, was arrested for his role in the plot.
5. Conspiracy involving his own lawyer
His lawyer Deepak Paradkar was arrested in Canada.
Prosecutors say Paradkar advised Wedding that killing the witness would make the case disappear.
Seven people connected to Wedding’s operation have been arrested in Canada.
Three other suspects in the Medellin murder have been detained elsewhere.
Where is Ryan Wedding now?
The wedding is currently on the run and it is believed that:
Authorities say he lives under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world.
– Considered extremely dangerous
FBI agents describe Wedding as:
Fully integrated into cartel structures
He remains among the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.”
How high is the reward for his capture?
The US State Department increased the reward to:
$15 MILLION for information leading to his arrest
It is one of the highest rewards ever offered for a North American fugitive.
They are each being offered up to $2 million for others involved in the witness murder.
Why is he considered the greatest threat?
Canadian and US authorities say the wedding is a critical threat because:
-His smuggling network spans several continents.
-Works closely with the Sinaloa cartel.
-Demonstrated willingness to order assassinations, including federal witnesses.
-Controls a huge flow of cocaine into Canada and the United States.
“Fugitive Ryan Wedding remains one of the top threats to Canadian public safety,” said the RCMP commissioner.
