Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of running a billion-dollar drug trafficking ring and orchestrating multiple killings. The 44-year-old, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, was arrested in Mexico last week and flown to California for his first U.S. court appearance.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Wedding faces 17 felony charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, witness tampering, and money laundering. Authorities allege he moved as much as 60 tons of cocaine between Colombia, Mexico, Canada, and Southern California, operating under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel. He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2025, with a $15 million reward offered for his capture.
Mexican officials stated Wedding turned himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, but his defense attorney, Anthony Colombo, disputed this, claiming he was arrested and did not surrender. Wedding remains jailed without bond as ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Early.
Deeper Dive & Context
Allegations and Indictments
Wedding is accused of directing the murders of two family members in Ontario in 2023, a drug-debt-related killing in Canada in 2024, and the January 2025 murder of an associate in Colombia. U.S. authorities describe his operation as the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada, with indictments dating back to 2015 in his home country.
Legal and Law Enforcement Perspectives
FBI Director Kash Patel compared Wedding to notorious drug lords Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Pablo Escobar, calling him the “largest narco-trafficker in modern times.” The arrest followed a yearlong effort by authorities in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.
Colombo defended his client, stating the indictments are “just an accusation” and not evidence. He described Wedding as being in “good spirits” and “mentally tough.” Federal prosecutors declined to comment after the hearing.
Background and Next Steps
Wedding’s snowboarding career ended after a single event in the 2002 Winter Olympics. His alleged transition to crime began shortly after, with authorities claiming he “turned to a life of crime” as a narcotics trafficker. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 11, 2026.
The case highlights the intersection of international law enforcement efforts and the complexities of prosecuting high-profile fugitives with alleged ties to powerful cartels. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for cross-border drug trafficking investigations.