Former Olympic snowboarder wanted for running drug trafficking ring, ordering murders

Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder from Canada, is wanted for running a drug trafficking ring. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 43-year-old is charged with conspiracy to export cocaine, running a continuing criminal enterprise, and three murders in connection with the operation as well as an attempted murder. 

“He chose to become a major drug trafficker and a killer,” U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said during a news conference.

The #FBI offers a reward of up to $50,000 for info leading to the apprehension, arrest & extradition of Ryan James Wedding, wanted for alleged involvement in a transnational drug trafficking operation & multiple murders in furtherance of these drug crimes: https://t.co/RFdFwKgSaf pic.twitter.com/YY6s8pmPqx

— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) October 17, 2024

Prosecutors allege that Wedding ran a drug trafficking organization from 2011 to 2024 with Andrew Clark who was arrested in Mexico this month. Wedding is still at large.

“An Olympic athlete-turned-druglord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians,” Estrada said, while also mentioning that Wedding and Clark moved 60 tons of cocaine per year.

More on former snowboarder Ryan Wedding’s criminal history and Olympic career

It was reported that they moved the cocaine from Colombia through Mexico into Southern California. They would then distribute it to Canada and other parts of the U.S., working with a Canadian drug transportation network managed by Hardeep Ratte and Gurpreet Singh. According to prosecutors, the cocaine was stored in stash houses in Los Angeles before it was sent to Canada in trucks. Wedding and Clark allegedly hired contract killers to take hits out on people they believed they got in the way of their business.

“They were killers. Anyone who got in their way they would target with violence, including murder,” Estrada said.

Wedding was known to use many aliases, including “El Jefe” and “Public Enemy.” His organization was called “The Wedding Criminal Enterprise,” and authorities are offering $50,000 to anyone who has information leading to the arrest of Wedding.

Wedding competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and finished 24th for Canada in the men’s parallel giant slalom. In 2008, Wedding was arrested on cocaine trafficking charges. He was then convicted of conspiracy to possess and distribute contain in federal court in San Diego in 2009.