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Canadian Olympian charged with drug trafficking and orchestrating murders

Posted on by Kennedy
Canadian Olympian charged with drug trafficking and orchestrating murders

A former Olympic snowboarder has been charged by federal prosecutors with leading an international drug trafficking ring that shipped hundreds of pounds of cocaine to the United States and helping to “orchestrate multiple murders.”

The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California announced the indictment Thursday against 43-year-old Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian native who is believed to be in Mexico and is a fugitive. The eight counts include murder, criminal enterprise and conspiracy to possess, distribute and export cocaine.

Prosecutors allege Wedding's operation shipped cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and the Los Angeles area before delivering it by long-distance tractor-trailer to the United States and Canada. Under aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant” and “Public Enemy,” Wedding’s organization “resorted to violence — including multiple murders — to achieve its goals,” officials said.

Wedding and his partner Andrew Clark are alleged to have staged the murder of two people in Ontario, Canada, in November 2023 in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment. Another person was injured in the shooting and suffered physical injuries. It is also alleged that the couple ordered the killing of another person in May 2024 over drug debts.

“(Wedding) chose to become a major drug trafficker and he chose to become a murderer,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said during a news conference. “They were murderers. Anyone who got in their way was met with violence, including murder.”

Wedding competed for Canada in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He is one of 16 people charged in connection with the drug trafficking ring. Clark was arrested in Mexico in October, but four people remain on the run, including Wedding. During their investigation into the ring, law enforcement seized more than a ton of cocaine, as well as firearms, ammunition, $255,400 in U.S. dollars and more than $3.2 million in cryptocurrency.

The Olympian also faces drug offenses in Canada. He was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and sentenced to prison in 2010, according to the Associated Press. Estrada said Wedding continued to participate in drug trafficking after his release from prison and was protected by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest, detention and extradition of Wedding.

Follow Jordan Mendoza on social media @jordan_mendoza5

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